NCLEX-RN test anxiety among Hmong Nursing Students

TheUnited Statesis becoming increasingly ethnically diverse; however, minorities are underrepresented when it comes to health care professionals. In order to provide culturally congruent care to this varying population, nursing programs must attract, recruit, support, and retain ethnically diverse students. Most importantly nursing programs must provide as much support and assistance as necessary to ensure high pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for all first time test takers among all nursing students, but especially for minority students (Sullivan, 2004). The scores student graduates obtain from the NCLEX-RN examination not only impacts the students’ profession, it also has strong implications for the educational institution the student graduated from. Clearly, the implication goes far beyond the individual student (Shultz, 2010). The nursing profession has come a long way with the advances of technology and science. Currently nursing programs design their curriculum based on standards from a variety of organization such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Nursing like many other professions require state licensure in order to practice. There is an incredible amount of pressure on nurse educators to graduate only those students who will successfully pass the NCLEX-RN examination. Nursing programs must find a balance between educating nursing students to become competent practicing nurses, and preparing them to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Although most nursing students are successful in completing their nursing programs, the rate of passing on the NCLEX-RN has declined over the years among minority students (Lima,London, & Manieri, 2011). The enormous pressure for nursing students to do well in nursing programs in addition to the NCLEX-RN has created widespread test anxiety among nursing students, especially among English language learners (ELL). In Minnesota one of the largest populations of English language learners resides in the Hmong population. In this paper, I will assess test anxiety among Hmong nursing student, and evaluate potential interventions to help support Hmong nursing students succeed on the NCLEX-RN examination