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 (E) is used to predict nursing licensure exam (NCLEX) success.
• Previous studies (Year I and II) established the E's predictive validity.
• The impact of monitoring and remediation on exam success requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the accuracy of the HESI Exit Exam (E) in predicting NCLEX success for graduating nursing students.
• To examine the NCLEX success rates of low-scoring E students, including the effect of remediation.
• To evaluate the role of monitoring in the E's predictive accuracy.

Main Methods:

• A validity study involving 6,277 graduating registered and practical nursing students (Year III).
• Analysis of HESI Exit Exam (E) scores and subsequent NCLEX pass/fail rates.
• Comparison of NCLEX success between low-scoring E students with and without remediation.

Main Results:

• The HESI Exit Exam (E) remained highly predictive of NCLEX success across various nursing programs.
• Low-scoring E students were significantly more likely to fail the NCLEX than high-scoring students (P = .001).
• In Year III, monitoring was not a significant factor in predictive accuracy, and remediation did not significantly impact low-scoring students' pass rates.

Conclusions:

• The HESI Exit Exam (E) is a reliable predictor of NCLEX success.
• Further research is needed to define remediation strategies and explore E implementation's impact on NCLEX outcomes.