Exploring Creative Tinkering as a Pedagogical Instructional Methodology to Improve Success on NCLEX-RN©

In 2000, the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), introduced alternate format item questions as part of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).  Through the Chamberlain Care Student Success Model we identified student’s lack of experience with alternate format style questions. Our aim was to evaluate student preparation for NCLEX-RN© style questions using instructional technology to improve their performance. In addition, explore creative strategies guided by the Bricolage philosophy to integrate creative tinkering as a teaching methodology. This study used an exploratory method design. A retroactive data analysis was conducted using the results of the Assessment Technology Inc. (ATI) custom assessment. The assessment was administered over six months on 13 Chamberlain College of Nursing campuses across the nation to 645 bachelor’s degree nursing students in their junior year. The custom Assessment findings provided the impetus to determine an instructional technology that would serve to increase exposure to alternate items style questions.  The researchers elected to apply Smart board Notebook technology as the strategy integrating the philosophy of creative tinkering to build students’ knowledge of alternate format item success. The results of this study provided nurse educators with strategies to improve NCLEX-RN© preparation on alternate format items by a substantial percentage.  The results of this study provide nursing educators with strategies to improve NCLEX-RN© preparation using instructional technology that is creative and innovative.