At-risk students: do theory grades + standardized examinations = success?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Student Assessment
• Healthcare Professional Licensure

Background:

• The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a critical benchmark for nursing graduates.
• Identifying at-risk students early enables timely interventions and support.
• Existing methods for predicting NCLEX-RN success require systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and explore the predictive ability of various factors for identifying nursing students at risk of failing the NCLEX-RN.
• To determine the most effective predictors at different stages of the nursing curriculum.
• To inform the development of targeted remediation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of a nursing program's data.
• Exploration of predictive accuracy using standardized examinations.
• Analysis of nursing course theory grades and entrance criteria.

Main Results:

• Identified key predictors for NCLEX-RN success at critical curriculum points.
• Evaluated the predictive power of standardized tests, theory grades, and admissions data.
• Determined the optimal timing for utilizing predictive factors.

Conclusions:

• Early and ongoing assessment is vital for identifying students needing support to pass the NCLEX-RN.
• Specific academic and standardized test metrics demonstrate significant predictive value.
• Informed remediation planning can improve NCLEX-RN pass rates and student outcomes.