A Quantitative Critique for Predictors for NCLEX Success in Nursing Students - Essay Example

The purpose of the following study is to examine the correlation between the NCLEX success and scores of the NET and PreRN examination scores. NCLEX-RN is a national multiple choice exam overseen and administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. It was first introduced in 1982 as a paper-and-pen two-day exam to a computer-adaptive test in 1994 which is also the present test form. TM was introduced in 1997 there are not many similar studies therefore. According to Rubino (1998) there exists a correlation between NCLEX success and NET scores.

Among others, according to the Alexander and Brophy (1997) study the firmest predictors of NCLEX success were SAT verbal scores, nursing grade point average (GPA) and National League for Nursing (NLN) Comprehensive Achievement Test scores. Another study by Barkley, Rhodes and DuFur (1998) detect a bond between on standardized test scores and NCLEX, while Beeson and Kissling (2001), Briscoe and Anema (19999), Endres (1997), Swenty (1998), Wescott (1997) employed academic and non-academic variables for their stidoes: the Mosby Assess Test, NLN Achievement Tests, RN Entrance Examination and ACT.

These former content a high GPA is a predictor of success in nursing courses, and above the average scores on standardized tests were predictors of success on the NCLEX exam. Finally the study by Beeman and Waterhouse (2001) suggest that the results of NCLEX could be accurately via available student data.Study Framework, Research Objective and Study Design A drop in NCLEX-RN scores in 1997 led to exploration of failures rates and finding ways to overcome these. Defining predictors of NCLEX-RN such are the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) and Pre-RN exams of the Educational Resources, Inc. (ERI) and part of the Total Testing (TM) package.

Total Testing is a monitoring technique held during the course of study and aims to increase NCLEX success evaluating student diverse performance under diverse conditions. The study at hand utilized for the purpose of the paper is a correlational comparative study utilizing the formerly mentioned NET and Pre-RN exams to answers the following questions:Is Pre-RN is the proper tool for NCLEX-RN success rate forecastIs NET is the proper tool for entrance to a nursing school programAre both Pre-RN and NET are predictors to successful performance on the NCLEX-RN examVariablesAnalysis was performed using descriptive statistics with inferential statistics employing strength of relations between the measured variables, difference between groups' means, and confidence interval in a two-tailed test (Sayles, 2003).

Demographic variables are used as independent along with average point and other marks, grade point average, ACT and additional test scores, taken courses and work experience.Sample, Population and SettingThe studied sampled included the senior 83 students of an Associate in Nursing Degree Program (AND) and was held in 2001. (Sayles, 2003) with 78 students graduating and 68 of them taking the test for the first time. Data were obtained by university records and records form the nursing college and were divided in four categories of demographic data, applications to nursing courses, NET and Pre-RN data and the NCLEX results.

The analysis and correlation