Can Nursing Content Standardized Tests Predict NCELX-RN Outcomes?

This study was to investigate effective predictors of NCLEX-RN outcomes on the first-attempt among nursing content standardized tests (adult medical-surgical, fundamentals for nursing, pharmacology, maternal-newborn, nursing care of children, mental health, community health, and leadership and management) conducted throughout the nursing program.

NCLEX-RN outcomes and individual adjusted scores on the standardized tests of 151 graduates (118 graduates who passed and 33 graduates who failed the NCLEX-RN on the first-attempt) from the baccalaureate nursing program were analyzed by a t-test and logistic regression.  .

There were significant statistical differences between the two groups with NCLEX-RN success and failure in the individual adjusted scores on the standardized tests except the fundamental for nursing (p=.62) and nursing care of children (p=.759) tests.  The result of logistic regression indicated that the overall model was statistically reliable in distinguishing those who succeed on the NCLEX-RN on the first-attempt (-2 Log likelihood=111.713, X²(2)=46.854, and p=.000).  The model correctly classified 93.2 percent (110 out of 118) of the NCLEX-RN success.  Also, the overall model was statistically significant in distinguishing those who failed the NCLEX-RN on the first- attempt (-2 Log likelihood=111.713, X²(2)=46.854, and p=.000); however, the model correctly classified only 33.3 percent (11 out of 33) of the NCLEX-RN failure cases.  Adult medical-surgical, pharmacology, and community health standardized tests were central to the prediction of both NCLEX-RN success and failure; however, a much lower percentage of NCLEX-RN failure than success was classified

The adult medical-surgical, pharmacology, and community health standardized tests were effective in predicting NCLEX-RN success and not effective in predicting NCLEX-RN failure on the first-attempt.  The NCLEX-RN success predictors can be utilized to identify students at risk and provide early remediation. After early remediation is implemented, the comprehensive standardized tests may be used as a mid-point indicator of the remediation’s effectiveness before taking the NCLEX-RN.