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The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, and correlational research design was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, and first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® of nursing students graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 enrolled in baccalaureate programs at two HBCUs in the southeastern region of the United States.
Methods:
The study used a quantitative descriptive correlational design to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, and first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® among nursing students graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 enrolled in baccalaureate programs at two HBCUs in the southeastern region of the United States. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine the degree and characteristics of relationships among variables rather than to infer cause-and-effect (Creswell, 2008; Polit & Beck, 2008). Experimental design was not appropriate for this study because manipulation of the independent variables of self-esteem and locus of control could not be implemented to determine cause.
Structured self-report surveys were used to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, and first-time pass on NCLEX-RN®. Self-report in the form of a questionnaire was used for data collection. A non-experimental quantitative, descriptive, and correlational design was used in this study. Cross-sectional survey and archival data were used to estimate the characteristics of the population and to examine relationships among variables rather than to determine cause. Instruments used in the study included a demographics sheet, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale for measures of self-esteem and Rotter’s Internal-External Locus of Control Scale for measures of locus of control.
Results:
Estimates of 100% first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® for all participants (N=90) were obtained using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (SES) for measure of self-esteem. Overall, all participants (90, 100%) reported high levels of self-esteem using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. Self-esteem was the independent variable and first time pass on NCLEX-RN® was the dependent variable. There is not a statistically significant relationship between self-esteem and first-time pass on NCLEX-RN®. Nursing students graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 who participated in the study were found to have high levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem level was not an indication of first time passage on NCLEX-RN® in 15 (16.7%) participants. However, 75 (83.3%) of the participants who passed NCLEX-RN® were estimated to pass on first attempt. The Sig. value (.839) for self-esteem was statistically insignificant at p > .05. Inaccurate estimates of first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® for participants (N=15, 16.3%) who failed to pass NCLEX-RN® indicated that level of self-esteem was not a determinant of first-time failure.
There was not a significant correlation between locus of control and first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® (Sig. value .290, p >.05). Research Question 2 failed to reject Null Hypothesis 2. The model using locus of control failed to explain first-time pass NCLEX-RN®. Each participant (N=90) was found to have an internal locus of control indicating that participants believed they controlled or influenced what happened in their lives. Not a single participant was found to have external locus of control indicating the belief that events in life were controlled by chance, luck, or others. Locus of control was not the distinguishing factor among participants (N=90) in the study.
There was not a statistically significant relationship between locus of control and self-esteem. Participants in this study were found to have internal locus of control and high levels of self-esteem. In the classification table for research question one the Sig. value was .839 for self-esteem, however; in research question three the Sig. value was .520 indicating that self-esteem was stronger when combined with locus of control.
No statistically significant relationship was found between self-esteem and locus of control combined and first time pass on NCLEX-RN®. Research Question 4 failed to reject Null Hypothesis 4. H40: There was not a statistically significant relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, and first time pass rate on NCLEX-RN®. The model failed to identify the 15 (16.7%) participants who failed to pass the NCLEX-RN® on first attempt. High levels of self-esteem and internal locus of control failed to explain first time success on NCLEX-RN® for senior nursing students graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 who participated in the study.
Conclusion:
The findings of this quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study indicated no statistically significant relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, and first-time passage on NCLEX-RN® among senior nursing students (n=90) graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 from baccalaureate programs at two HBCUs in the southeastern region of the United States. However, a significant relationship was found between self-esteem and locus of control. Findings of this study revealed no statistically significant relationship between self-esteem, locus of control separately or combined and first-time passage of the NCLEX-RN®. Self-esteem and locus of control were found to relate to each other but neither could explain first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® among participants. The missing connection for explanation of first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® was not revealed by this study. Replication of the study using random sampling in different baccalaureate nursing programs to include academic and non-academic predictors is recommended.
This quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study investigated the relationships between self-esteem, locus of control, and first-time passage of the NCLEX-RN® among senior nursing students (n=90) graduating in the classes of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 from baccalaureate programs at two HBCUs in the southeastern region of the United States. Independent variables for the study were self-esteem and locus of control. First-time pass on National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) was the dichotomous dependent variable. Findings of this study revealed no statistically significant relationship between self-esteem, locus of control separately or combined and first-time passage of the NCLEX-RN®. Self-esteem and locus of control were found to relate to each other but neither could explain first-time pass on NCLEX-RN® among participants. A discussion of the findings, significance to leaders, conclusions, and recommendations are included in chapter five.