Predicting NCLEX-PN success with the HESI Exit Exam

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• Practical nursing programs prepare students for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.
• Standardized exit exams are used to assess student readiness for licensure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the HESI Exit Exam for Practical Nurses (E2-PN) for NCLEX-PN success.
• To examine the benchmarking and remediation policies in practical nursing schools.

Main Methods:

• Surveys were distributed to directors of 72 randomly selected practical nursing schools.
• Data collected included student NCLEX-PN outcomes and school policies on benchmarking and remediation.
• Exam versions 1, 2, and 3 of the E2-PN were analyzed for predictive accuracy.

Main Results:

• The initial version of the E2-PN demonstrated 99.48% accuracy in predicting NCLEX-PN success.
• Subsequent versions of the E2-PN also showed high predictive accuracy, particularly for remediated students.
• A benchmark score of 850 on the E2-PN was common, with 73% of schools requiring remediation for scores below this threshold.
• Tutoring was the most frequently utilized remediation strategy.

Conclusions:

• The E2-PN is a highly accurate predictor of NCLEX-PN licensure exam success.
• School-implemented remediation policies, such as tutoring, are associated with improved student outcomes.
• The E2-PN serves as an effective tool for identifying students needing additional support to pass the NCLEX-PN.