Anatomy and physiology as a predictor of success in baccalaureate nursing students

The purpose of this two-part study was to identify early indicators of students' success (N = 98) in a baccalaureate nursing program. Part I determined how well six variables predicted competence on a criterion-referenced anatomy and physiology (A/P) examination. A multiple regression model was used to analyze the relationships among the predictor and the criterion variables. Data analyses show that only two predictors, grade point average and type of college in which the A/P course was taken, were significantly related (p = 0.0001) to A/P test scores. Part II used students' A/P score to predict success in the didactic component of clinical nursing coursework. In part II, a simple regression model was used to predict the relationship between A/P test score and success in the second clinical nursing course. These results indicated that A/P test score was significantly related (p = 0.003) to success in the second clinical nursing course.