Comparing Work Readiness for Nursing Students Enrolled in a Concept-Based Versus Medical-Based Curriculum

Between 2015 and 2018, nurse faculty replaced a medical-based curriculum with a concept-based curriculum. NCLEX®-RN pass rates and a nontraditional program quality indicator assessed the association of different curricula on four dimensions of work readiness. Three cohorts of senior baccalaureate nursing students ( N = 199), who enrolled in either the medical-based curriculum or the concept-based curriculum, completed the Walker et al. Work Readiness Survey for Graduate Nurses. Survey results revealed significant differences between the curriculum types but no differences in NCLEX-RN pass rates. Using nontraditional quality indicators may identify best practices that foster student readiness for practice.