Design: A correlational design is being used to examine the relationships among student scores on the HESI Admission Assessment (A²), a custom-designed mid-curricular exam (MC), and the HESI Exit Exam (E²) to determine the relationship of outcomes on these exams with attrition. The predictive accuracy of the E2 for sample is also being measured.

Population, Sample, Setting, Years: A2, MC, E² scores and NCLEX-RN outcomes for 36 students who graduated from an ADN program in May, 2003, and completed the NCLEX-RN by October, 2003 and 64 students who will graduate in May, 2004 and those that have completed the NCLEX-RN by, July 2004 will comprise the sample.

Concept or Variables Studied Together: The relationship among A2 scores that assess prospective students’ ability to succeed in nursing school; MC scores that evaluate student achievement at mid-point in the curriculum; E² scores that predict NCLEX-RN success are being examined. Additionally, the relationship of scores on these exams are being related to attrition rates within the program.

Methods: Students’ A2 scores are being compared with their MC scores, and MC scores are being compared with E² scores. E2 scores are being compared with NCLEX-RN outcomes to determine the E2’s predictive accuracy. The relationship among A² scores, MC scores, and attrition is also under evaluation.

Findings: Study in progress.

Conclusions: Study in progress.

Implications: Prior studies indicate that the E2 is highly accurate in predicting NCLEX-RN outcomes, but there are no published studies relating the accuracy of the A2 or the MC in predicting program outcome achievement. The findings of this study will describe relationships among these variables and their relationship to attrition.

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Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004