Selected pre-admission and academic correlates of success on State Board Examinations

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine student performance prior to and following admission to a baccalaureate nursing program in comparison with their performance on the individual sections of the State Board Test Pool Examinations (SBE) and an overall assessment of Pass-Fail on the SBE. The following hypothesis guided the study: It is possible to determine which variables are most influential in predicting success on SBEs. Additional research questions addressed the relationship between theoretical and clinical nursing courses and SBE performance, the pertinence of various demographic variables, and differences between students passing and failing SBEs. The sample was composed of the 139 Class of 1980 graduates for whom SBE results were available. Data pertaining to individual course grades, grade point averages, credit hours earned prior to admission, school attended prior to admission, previous academic degree, race, and all SBE scores were obtained. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed the junior or senior year cumulative clinical nursing theory GPA had the highest weighting in each section of the SBE and for Pass-Fail SBE. Cumulative clinical nursing theory GPAs were more highly correlated with SBE performance than were cumulative clinical nursing practicum GPAs. The pre-admission liberal arts and cumulative GPAs were also highly correlated with performance. In addition, the number of credit hours earned prior to admission, school attended, and race of the student were found to significant factors. Significant differences between students passing and failing SBEs were found in regard to their level of performance in course work.