Methods: Prelicensure nursing students were sent the invitation link to join the closed Facebook group as well as the link to the NCSBN Social Media Guidelines for Nurses video regarding responsible use of social media. Students shared challenges regarding the NCLEX application process, study tools, and provided motivational support within the Facebook group. Students often communicated with faculty using the Facebook Messenger application to ask questions about testing dates, out of state NCLEX application processes, and NCLEX testing processes. Students who had not met the program benchmark and were considered at-risk enrolled in the VATI program. Faculty would receive weekly reports from the VATI nurse educator to follow student progress. Students who were not actively engaging in the program would receive a motivational message from the nursing faculty using Facebook Messenger. Students who were progressing in VATI were also provided with positive reinforcement towards completion of the green light achievement.
Results: A total of 49 of the 52 prelicensure nursing graduates (94%) chose to participate in the strategy using the Facebook group page after graduation. Students expressed feeling supported in the NCLEX process by the nursing faculty who monitored the group. Students mentioned that they checked Facebook posts often as compared to their university email. The quarterly NCLEX pass rate at the institution was 100% after implementation for the cohort. VATI participants expressed that the communication from the faculty helped to maintain motivation to continue and they identified that when their peers successfully passed NCLEX it was a good motivator to attain the green light. Students felt that using Facebook to collaborate, communicate, and connect after graduation was integral to their success.
Conclusion: The implementation of the Facebook private, closed group as a strategy to stay connected, collaborate, and communicate with recent graduates was found to be an effective way to motivate students in achieving NCLEX success for first time test takers. Weekly reports from the VATI nurse educator were helpful for the nursing faculty to identify the progress of at-risk students and provide support through the use of Facebook Messenger as they were actively participating in the program to achieve the green light. The nursing program continues to utilize Facebook as a means to collaborate, communicate, and connect with baccalaureate nursing students after graduation from a baccalaureate prelicensure nursing program to support first time NCLEX test takers.