Predictive Validity of Preadmission Assessment on Early Nursing Academic Readiness: Impact of COVID-19.

Background: While numerous studies have predicted early nursing school success to determine the criterion-related validity of admission tests, few studies have evaluated the predictive validity of these tests in the context of the impact of COVID-19.

Purpose: This study examined the predictive validity of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) scores on early academic success in nursing programs across pre-pandemic, during-pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

Methods: Data for more than 100 000 students who took both TEAS and Content Mastery Series Fundamentals assessments were evaluated using correlation and regression analyses.

Results: All TEAS content area scores significantly predicted early academic success with Reading and Science being the strongest predictors. Slightly weaker predictive relations were observed across all areas during the pandemic. These relationships improved in the post-pandemic period.

Conclusions: The findings support the inclusion of standardized tests in evidence-based admission criteria despite the impact of COVID-19 on students' learning and assessment during the pandemic period.