Improving NCLEX-RN Pass Rates by Implementing a Testing Policy

Abstract

To improve the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) pass rates and to address the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission's outcomes standard, a testing policy was developed and implemented at an associate degree of nursing (ADN) program located in a suburb south of Denver, CO. This article describes the testing policy strategies that were implemented by the ADN faculty to evaluate the curriculum. Strategies used for internal curriculum evaluation addressed test item writing, test blueprinting, and the use of item analysis data to evaluate and improve faculty-designed exams. Strategies used for external curriculum evaluation employed the use of HESI specialty exams that were administered at the completion of each course and HESI Exit Exams that were administered at the completion of the first and second years of the curriculum. These strategies were formalized with the development of a testing policy manual that described the procedures used to implement internal and external curriculum evaluation. To measure the effectiveness of the testing policy, NCLEX-RN outcomes were compared before and after implementing the testing policy. Findings indicated that the mean NCLEX-RN pass rate for the 5 years following implementation of the testing policy was significantly higher (P < .01) than the mean NCLEX-RN pass rate for the 5 years preceding implementation of the testing policy.