Curriculum content in specified courses including med-surg, pediatrics, obstetrics, psych-mental health, community, fundamentals, health assessment must be mastered to be able to pass the licensing exam, NCLEX.
Objective
Specialty
Nursing students will achieve mastery of a specialty content area (med-surg, pediatrics, obstetrics, psych-mental health, community, fundamentals, health assessment) by the end of each of their specialty courses.
Indicator
Standardized ATI Specialty Examinations
Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI) is a software-based testing company that produces standardized tests and learning software for nursing students. Each student is administered the chosen specialty exam within the specialty course.
Criterion
Score Of Level 2 Or Greater By At Least 60%
60% of cohorts taking specialty exams by ATI will achieve set score of Level 2 (Proficient) or more. Range of levels goes from zero to 3 (highly proficient)
Finding
Findings Of ATI Specialty Exam Results From 2013-14
Out of 16 examinations given to 16 different groups of students in 8 classes, only 3 groups (18.75%) achieved the criterion on 60% of the class scoring equal to or greater than level 2. This goal was met only 18.75% of the time.
Action
Assessment And Remediation For Specialty Exams
Students will be taking the ATI assessment tests in nearly every nursing course. Policies and procedures are being developed by the Testing Committee to ensure that students who obtain a score of 1 or less on any test will have a given number of hours of remediation. They will then be required to take a re-test over the same material. This will prepare them better for the Exit Exam and the NCLEX. Also, each student is assigned a faculty mentor as they enter our program. The faculty mentor's role is to follow that student's progress on grades and ATI scores throughout the program. They mentor the student on study and testing skills. Scores on specialty exams count as 5% of a course grade.
Goal
Mastery Of Curriculum Content In Order To Pass The NCLEX Exam For Licensure
Mastery of the basic nursing curriculum is required for licensure. THE ATI Exit examination is a standardized national examination that students take just prior to graduation to determine if they are ready to take the NCLEX after graduation. A national mean for BSN students is given for which we can compare our students.
Objective
Mastery By Graduation
Nursing students will achieve mastery of all nursing content just prior to graduation.
Indicator
Standardized ATI Exit Examination
Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI) is a software-based testing company that produces standardized tests and learning software for nursing students. Each student is administered the comprehensive nurse exam that tests the student' overall knowledge in key areas of the nursing curriculum. In many ways, the ATI Exit Exam is similar to the National Council of Licensing Examination for the Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and, therefore, performance on the ATI Exit Exam is considered to be a good predictor of a student's readiness for the licensing exam.
Criterion
Achievement Of Graduating Seniors On Comprehensive ATI Exam
At the time of graduation, sixty percent (60%) of students taking a standardized exit examination will achieve at least the baseline score of national BSN mean on their last attempt. In 2013-14 the national BSN mean on the Exit ATI was 68.1%. The faculty felt that if the national population of BSN graduates had 50% attaining above the mean of 68.1%, then SHSU would be good to have 60% above the mean of 68.1%.
Finding
Achievement Of Graduating Seniors On ATI Exit Exam 2014
The 25 students who took the ATI exit exam in April, 2014 did not perform well on the Exit Comprehensive ATI exam. Only 20% (n=5) of the class scored above the national mean of 68.1%. Of the remaining 20 students, 5 scored a PROBABILITY OF PASSING NCLEX ON FIRST TAKE between 1-28%, 6 scored between 31-56%, 6 scored between 59-71%, 2 between 73-78%, and 1 between 80-82% These probablility scores translate to actual raw scores as follows:
Action
Continuous Assessment And Remediation Throughout Curriculum
Students will be taking the ATI comprehensive assessment test at the end of the 2-year nursing upper division curriculum. The test is a well-known predictor of NCLEX success and is used by a majority of BSN and ADN programs to identify both individul students who are at risk for failing the NCLEX and to identify curricular areas of weakness.
A national ADN, BSN, and combined mean is provided with a thorough analysis of the test for our program, including individual scores.
Students who obtain a score of less than the national BSN mean on their exit test will have a given number of hours of mandatory remediation with either their instructor or our nursing resource coach. They will then be required to take a re-test over the same material with a different test. This will prepare them better for the NCLEX.
Objective
Nursing Graduates From SHSU Will Pass The NCLEX Exam On The First Attempt
The NCLEX is a national licensing exam that is regulated by each state. In Texas that regulation agency is the Texas Board of Nursing. Students take the exam in a highly controlled Pearson Vue Center and must show two forms of identification. No objects are allowed into the testing site. Prior to registering to take the exam, the Board must approve them after receiving an affidavit of graduation from the Dean or Director of their school of nursing. Schools are expected to produce graduates who will pass on the first attempt.
Indicator
First-attempt NCLEX Pass Rate
The NCLEX is a national licensing exam regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing. It is a computer-adapted test that can take up to 4 hours. The test is comprehensive over the entire 2-year nursing curriculum.
Criterion
NCLEX Passing Rate
80% of graduating nursing students will pass the NCLEX licensing exam on the first attempt.
Finding
2013-14 NCLEX Results
The preliminary results of the 2013-14 were 78.26% passing rate or 17 out of 23 students. the official results will be distributed by the Texas Board of Nursing in mid to late October, 2014.
Action
NCLEX Pass Rate Improvement
With a pass rate below 80% we have one more year in which to raise the rate before being placed on warning. Our first year rate was 87.5 and second year rate is approximately 78.26%. The action plan is as follows: 1. Each faculty to review the ATI Exit exam in detail for the weakest areas and consciously boost the appropriate course content in those areas. 2. Instead of giving one practice and two proctored exit exams, give one practice and three proctored exit exams. Have students who scored below the mean do mandatory remediation with the teacher. 3. Have a review day toward the end of the semeste in which instructors from each specialty area come into the class and review important content in their respective areas. 4. Each course is to add more NCLEX style questions to their quizzes and exams. 5. Continue the 3-day ATI live review.