A third study on predicting NCLEX success with the HESI exit Exam

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Professions Education
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• The HESI Exit Exam (E2) is a tool used to assess nursing students' readiness for the NCLEX.
• Previous studies have established the E2's predictive validity for NCLEX success.
• The impact of specific factors like monitoring and remediation on E2's predictive accuracy warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the third annual validity study of the HESI Exit Exam (E2).
• To assess the E2's accuracy in predicting NCLEX success for graduating registered and practical nursing students.
• To examine the NCLEX success rates of low-scoring E2 students and the impact of remediation.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale, multi-year validity study involving over 6,000 nursing students (Year III).
• Statistical analysis to determine the predictive accuracy of the E2 across different nursing program types (ADN, BSN, Diploma, PN).
• Comparison of NCLEX pass rates between low-scoring E2 students who did and did not participate in remediation.

Main Results:

• The E2 demonstrated high predictive accuracy for NCLEX success across all nursing program types in Year III.
• Monitoring was not a significant factor in the E2's predictive accuracy in Year III.
• Low-scoring E2 students were significantly more likely to fail the NCLEX than high-scoring students.
• Unlike in Year II, no significant difference in pass rates was found between low-scoring E2 students who underwent remediation and those who did not in Year III.

Conclusions:

• The HESI Exit Exam (E2) remains a highly predictive measure of NCLEX success for diverse nursing student populations.
• The effectiveness of current remediation programs for low-scoring students needs further evaluation, suggesting a need for a more standardized definition of remediation.
• Future research should focus on E2 implementation strategies and their direct relationship with NCLEX success.