Predicting NCLEX-RN Success With the HESI Exit Exam: Eighth Validity Study

Abstract

Increasingly, Elsevier's HESI Exit Exam (E(2)) is being used to assess students' readiness for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Seven previously conducted validity studies indicate that the E(2) is 96.36%-99.16% accurate in predicting NCLEX-RN success. Findings of this eighth validity study, which also investigated the predictive accuracy of repeat testing with parallel versions of the E(2), indicated that the E(2) is highly accurate (94.93%-98.32%) in predicting NCLEX-RN success for the initial testing and 2 retests. Of the 66 participating nursing programs, deans and directors from 43 (65.15%) of the programs reported implementing a policy that used E(2) scores as a benchmark for remediation. A score of 850 was the most common E(2) benchmark designated by faculties, and students who failed to achieve the faculty-designated E(2) benchmark score were required to retest with a parallel version of the E(2). Remediation resources used to assist students in achieving faculty-designated E(2) benchmark scores varied widely, with many programs employing multiple remediation methods.