A comparative analysis of NCLEX pass rates: Nursing health human resources considerations

Abstract

Aims To examine performance differences among different writers of the National Council Licensure Examination‐Registered Nurse (NCLEX‐RN) examination in Canada; to compare Canadian and U.S. writer pass rate data; and to identify if changes in the Canadian nursing workforce can be related to the introduction of NCLEX‐RN. Background In January 2015, the entry‐to‐practice licensing examination changed from the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination to the NCLEX‐RN, and pass rates declined. Methods This comparative analytic study examined NCLEX‐RN pass rate data for 2015, 2016 and 2017 using publicly available data. The Canadian data were compared with that from U.S. nurses taking the examination. Results Overall year‐end pass rates among Canadian writers appeared to improve significantly in 2016 (95% to 96.3%, p < 0.001, from 2015 to 2016) but declined again from 96.3% to 90.4% in 2017 (p < 0.001). Pass rates remain significantly lower for first attempt Canadian writers compared to first attempt U.S. writers (2015: 69.7% vs. 84.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusions The change in licensing examination had a major impact on pass rates for new graduates entering the nursing profession and potentially the number of new nurses entering the profession in Canada immediately after graduation. Implications for Nursing Management A loss of entry‐level workers to the nursing profession in Canada affects workforce management strategies, particularly with respect to worker shortages.

Impact of Blended Learning on NCLEX Scores and Subscores

“…Three statistical assumptions of the chi-square test were met by design: both variables were categorical (dichotomous); observations were independent, and all cells had at least five observations (Laerd Statistics, 2018). The NCLEX exam is scored twice, initially at the exam test center and finally by the Pearson VUE (McGillis Hall et al, 2019). The reliability of the NCLEX exam is assessed through a decision consistency statistic (NCSBN, 2021b).…”

NCLEX‐RN© preparation resources available online in French: An integrative review

“…Over the past 5 years, there has been much evidence (Lalonde et al., 2020; McGillis Hall et al., 2016, 2019) and media reports (Lunn, 2018; McGillis Hall et al., 2018; St‐Denis, 2017) describing Canadian graduates’ experiences after the implementation of the NCLEX‐RN © examination. One of the recurrent themes has been the contentious debate surrounding the French version of the examination (CNO, 2018; Lalonde, 2019; Lalonde et al., 2020; McGillis Hall et al., 2016, 2018, 2019) more specifically around the quality of the translation of the exam and lack of preparatory resources available in French. First, the perception of candidates writing the examination in French was that the translation was problematic – even stating: ‘Sometimes with the wording of the questions, you couldn't understand what they were looking for’ (McGillis Hall et al., 2016, p. 45).…”