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Abstract

Nursing schools are committed to improving the passing rate of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to remain above acceptable levels. Therefore, the National League for Nursing (NLN) readiness exam taken before graduation can be used as a diagnostic test. The NLN scores are used to investigate which clinical course grade has the highest correlation with the readiness exam and ultimately with the NCLEX. With that knowledge, educators could strengthen particular courses in order to ultimately enhance a higher NCLEX-RN passing rate. To investigate the relationship among nursing clinical course grades, foundational science courses, and NCLEX-RN readiness exam scores, the initial study in 2004 on BSN performance was compared to a follow-up study on ADN students in 2007 in another college within the same university. Stepwise regression and Pearson moment correlation analysed the data. The first nursing course, adult health nursing and maternal child health nursing, truly appears foundational for the NCLEX readiness exam. These results were consistent in both BSN and ADN programs. As adult learning theory suggests, the first nursing course may provide an overview into which the facts and skills of later courses are integrated.

Keywords

associate degree nursing BSN clinical courses foundational science courses licensure exam NCLEX-RN predictors

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Comparative analysis of NLN NCLEX-RN readiness exam performance: BSN versus ADN

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