Evaluation of a Secure Laptop-Based Testing Program in an Undergraduate Nursing Program: Students' Perspective

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Educational Technology
• Assessment Methods

Background:

• The integration of technology in higher education has facilitated secure laptop-based testing.
• A nursing program implemented a secure laptop-based testing initiative in 2009.
• This initiative aimed to leverage student-owned laptops for in-classroom assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a formative evaluation of a secure laptop-based testing program.
• To gather student feedback for program improvement.
• To analyze the impact of testing methods on NCLEX-RN first-time passing rates.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods evaluation was employed, incorporating descriptive and correlational data.
• Student feedback was collected from 166 participants.
• NCLEX-RN first-time passing rates were analyzed using the chi-squared test and odds ratios.

Main Results:

• Students reported that the laptop testing prepared them for the computerized NCLEX-RN and provided valuable exam experience.
• Significant concerns were raised regarding laptop and campus network glitches during testing.
• No statistically significant association was found between testing method and first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates.

Conclusions:

• The secure laptop-based testing method may increase the odds of first-time NCLEX-RN success (OR=1.37).
• Improvements in laptop quality and campus network stability are recommended.
• Re-evaluation of the Laptop Initiative Program is warranted to address student concerns and optimize the testing environment.