Predicting NCLEX success with the HESI Exit Exam: fourth annual validity study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Professions Education
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• The Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) Exit Exam is utilized by nursing programs to assess student readiness for the NCLEX licensure examination.
• Previous validity studies have established the HESI Exit Exam as a predictor of NCLEX success.
• This study investigates the predictive accuracy and risk stratification associated with HESI Exit Exam scores.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the HESI Exit Exam's accuracy in predicting success on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
• To determine the relationship between specific HESI Exit Exam scoring intervals and the risk of NCLEX failure.
• To provide data for evidence-based decision-making regarding student progression and remediation in nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive comparative design was employed.
• Data were collected from nursing schools on student NCLEX outcomes for the 1999-2000 academic year.
• Statistical analysis examined the correlation between HESI Exit Exam scores and NCLEX results.

Main Results:

• The HESI Exit Exam demonstrated high accuracy in predicting NCLEX success (98.46%).
• Significant differences were found between all scoring intervals (P = .001).
• The NCLEX failure rate more than doubled with each successively lower HESI scoring interval for both registered nurse and practical nurse students.

Conclusions:

• The HESI Exit Exam is a reliable predictor of NCLEX success.
• Specific HESI scoring intervals effectively identify students at higher risk for NCLEX failure.
• Findings support the use of the HESI Exit Exam for informed academic and remediation strategies in nursing education.