title: Strategies for lowering attrition rates and raising NCLEX-RN pass rates.
abstract: This study was designed to determine strategies to raise the NCLEX-RN pass rate and lower the attrition rate in a community college nursing program. Ex-post facto data were collected from 213 former nursing student records. Qualitative data were collected from 10 full-time faculty, 30 new graduates, and 45 directors of associate degree nursing programs in Texas. The findings linked the academic variables of two biology courses and three components of the preadmission test to completion of the nursing program. A relationship was found between one biology course, the science component of the preadmission test, the HESI Exit Examination score, and the nursing skills course to passing the NCLEX-RN. Qualitative data indicated preadmission requirements, campus counselors, remediation, faculty, test-item writing, and teaching method were instrumental in completion of the program and passing the NCLEX-RN.
authors.affiliation: Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, Texas 76133, USA. bonnie.higgins@tccd.edu
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012073:Remedial Teaching; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas