Predictors of success: NCLEX -RN passage and pre-nursing GPA, the Net, and HESI exit exam for students in the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing at Tennessee State University

This research was conducted to explore predictors of success of students\u27 first time passing of the NCLEX-RN licensure exam after completion of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing Program at Tennessee State University. The variables studied were focused on four types of variables: demographic variables of age, ethnicity, gender, and marital status; pre-matriculation variables of NET scores and GPA; and intra-matriculation variables of HESI exit exam score. Included in the study were students who passed the HESI and graduated from the AAS Nursing Program at Tennessee State University in the spring of 2005 and passed the licensure exam in the 2005. In analysis of the data, students were divided into two groups, at-risk and not at-risk. The at-risk group was determined by a pre-nursing GPA of less than 2.8. This study revealed that there is a statistically significant difference between the groups at all levels which would lead one to believe that the students in the at-risk group would fail the NCLEX-RN. Since all students passed the HESI and the NCLEX-RN, the qualitative data was analyzed. This revealed themes and patterns which concluded that faculty led enhancements and mentoring had assisted students to successfully complete both the program of study and passing the licensure exam on the first attempt