Investigating cumulative grade point average, last course exam grade, standardized testing results performance and NCLEX-RN® success for program evaluation: a correlational study

Abstract

Aims

Investigating students’ NCLEX-RN® performance can inspire nursing faculty to revise student admission requirements and nursing curricula. This study examines whether any relationship exists between cumulative grade point average, last course exam grade, standardized testing performance, and NCLEX success among undergraduate RN students.

Methodology

The research inquiry was investigated using a quantitative observational retrospective chart review method with a correlational design. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation and logistic regression.

Results

The cumulative grade point average, last course exam grade, standardized testing performance, and NCLEX success among undergraduate RN students were strongly related. When predicting a student's first-time NCLEX outcome, all variables had moderate to strong individual relationships with whether the student would pass. The variable with the strongest relationship to the NCLEX outcome is the student's GPA (ρ = 0.462, a significant correlation). The GPA and the standardized test score were statistically significant predictors of passing the NCLEX. Still, the last course letter grade does not add predictive information on how they will perform academically and did not have a statistically significant relationship with passing the NCLEX (GPA, χ²(1) = 13.39; p < 0.001; For NUR 320, χ²(1) = 0.27; p = 0.60; For Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), χ²(1) = 13.39; p = 0.028).

Conclusion

Nursing faculty must work to improve the success rate of first-time NCLEX-RN test takers, which can affect curriculum development and graduation to complete the career path to enter into nursing practice.