Using an Admissions Exam to Predict Student Success in an ADN Program

Abstract

Nursing faculty strive to admit students who are likely to successfully complete the nursing curriculum and pass NCLEX-RN. The high cost of academic preparation and the nursing shortage make this selection process even more critical. The authors discuss how one community college nursing program examined academic achievement measures to determine how well they predicted student success. Results provided faculty with useful data to improve the success and retention of nursing.

Admission Criteria for Undergraduate Nursing Programs

“…22 Conflicting findings in a study of ADN students found that neither NET nor RNEE was a good predictor of NCLEX success; RNEE was predictive of performance in NUR 101, which, in turn, was predictive of NCLEX success. 23 Whereas NET math scores significantly and positively correlated with graduation, the correlation between NET reading comprehension scores and graduation was even stronger, 16 a significant factor that may point to retention. The NET examination, especially its criticalthinking portions, was helpful in predicting student success through level 1 nursing courses.…”

An exploratory study of first-semester student attrition in a community college.

“…Crouch (1999) and Sayles et al (2003) identified preadmission test scores as highly predictive of student success in associate degree nursing programs. Gallagher, Bomba, and Crane (2001) identified reading comprehension scores as important predictors of student success in associate degree nursing programs. Lau (2003) asserted that students who entered postsecondary education without sufficient competencies in math and writing would have difficulties with college level courses.…”

“…As noted in the literature review, Chen and Thomas (2001), Crouch (1999) and Sayles et al (2003) found entrance examination scores to be one of the variables having significance in predicting student persistence. Gallagher et al (2001) and Fike and Fike (2008) specifically identified reading comprehension scores as important predictors of student success in associate degree nursing programs. As indicated in the demographic analysis, 39.8% of the non-persisting students were program ready in reading, compared to 65.2% of the students who persisted to the next semester.…”

Academic and Nursing Aptitude and the NCLEX-RN in Baccalaureate Programs

“…Predicative validity of this test, when measured against grades in high school was found to be predictive of success. This screening tool assesses numerical and verbal ability, physical and life science, and reading comprehension (Gallagher, Bomba, & Crane, 2001). …”