title: Does Prior RN Clinical Experience Predict Academic Success in Graduate Nurse Practitioner Programs?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited evidence on whether prior RN clinical experience is predictive of academic success in graduate nurse practitioner (NP) programs. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the frequently held assumption that more prior clinical experience is associated with better academic success in The George Washington University online NP programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applications (n = 106) for clinical NP students entering from 2008-2010 were examined along with data on academic performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No relationship was found between years of prior RN clinical experience and three educational outcome variables (cumulative grade point average [GPA], clinical course GPA, and having failed any courses or been put on probation). However, students with the most prior RN clinical experience were less likely to graduate in 4 years, compared with those with the least experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings serve as a building block of empirical evidence for admissions committees as they consider entry requirements for NP programs.
authors.forename: Majeda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: El-Banna
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Mayri Sagady
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Athey
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pericak
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D059017:Primary Care Nursing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria