Effective Utilization of Computerized Curricular Assistive Tools in Improving NCLEX-RN Pass Rates for a Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Abstract

Achieving satisfactory first-time pass rates on the national nursing licensure examination represents a challenge for nursing programs across the United States. The consequences of examination failure for first-time test takers can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Nursing programs are evaluated by national higher-education credentialing bodies and state boards of nursing based on the first-time pass rate of their students. One Midwestern nursing program faced unsatisfactory first-time pass rates and developed strategies for improving first-time pass rates over a 3-year period. The nursing program utilized several strategies documented in the literature but found implementing computerized curricular assistive tools that complemented the nursing program's curriculum to be most effective. In addition, changing faculty and student culture on preparation for the national licensure examination was beneficial to all involved in the process.

Supporting Canadian Nursing Students to Write the NCLEX-RN Exam: A Three-Phased Mixed Methods Descriptive Design

“…The study provided a preliminary validated basis for NA to market their product to nursing graduates. While the adoption of proprietary materials to assist in NCLEX-RN preparation is only one component of a multifaceted approach to improving NCLEX-RN scores (Shoemaker et al, 2017;Quinn et al, 2018), it is critically important that these materials be evaluated for quality and applicability. Participant and reviewer feedback provided useful insights on the areas that the product could be improved upon by the developers.…”

A comprehensive educational approach to improving NCLEX‐RN pass rates

“…The nursing faculty chose to employ the Virtual Assessment Technologies Institute (VATI) program as a combination of an RN comprehensive predictor assessment tool and personalized coaching support content for the NCLEX‐RN examination to help support the students. This mode of NLCEX‐RN licensure preparation relies on the one‐to‐one relationship between the student and an assigned personal coach to assist the student through individual content mastery assessments tied to the licensure examination . On completing the 12‐week online end‐of‐program support content with a coach, the students received an approval to test from their online coach when the student had passed at a superior mark within each of the focus areas related to the NCLEX‐RN examination.…”

The Impact of Computerized Exam Features, Effective Exam Implementation, Toward Student Satisfaction

“…The standardization exam aims to identify the skills possessed by students as a requirement of passing the education level (DarlingHammond, 2015). The exam can be computerized as a collaborative tool for testing student competence through the transparent process (Shoemaker, et al, 2017). A good exam can help the students to do an effort to finish the exam.…”