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Impact of Testing Delay on First-Attempt NCLEX®-RN Success for Prelicensure Nursing Graduates
Juan Caluya1, Sunil Thomas, Daniel Alferez
1About the Authors Juan Caluya Jr., DNP, RN, CNE, PCCN, is associate professor, West Coast University, Orange County Campus, Anaheim, California. Sunil Thomas, DNP, RN, CHEP, is associate professor, West Coast University, Orange County Campus. Daniel Alferez, DNP, RN, CPEN, is manager, Nursing Persistence and Outcomes, West Coast University, Orange County Campus. Sherri Barrett, DNP, RN, is senior campus dean, West Coast University, Orange County Campus.
Graduates who take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX®-RN) within 2–4 weeks of completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program achieve higher pass rates. Testing later, around 10 weeks, correlates with lower success rates.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Health Professions Licensure
Background:
- The transition from nursing education to professional practice is critical.
- Timely licensure examination is a key factor in this transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the time interval from Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program completion and first-attempt National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX®-RN) outcomes.
- To identify optimal testing windows for maximizing NCLEX®-RN success.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study analyzing data from BSN graduates between 2021 and 2024.
- Categorization of test intervals post-graduation.
- Comparison of NCLEX®-RN first-time pass rates across different testing intervals.
Main Results:
- Graduates testing within 2 to 4 weeks of BSN completion demonstrated higher first-time NCLEX®-RN pass rates.
- Testing approximately 10 weeks or longer after graduation was associated with decreased pass rates.
- A clear trend indicates that earlier testing correlates with improved licensure examination outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Prompt NCLEX®-RN testing following BSN completion is significantly linked to higher first-attempt pass rates.
- Nursing educators should encourage and support students in timely exam preparation and testing.
- Optimizing the timing of licensure exams can enhance graduate success and workforce entry.
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