Demographic and academic predictors of licensed practical nurse student success on the NCLEX-PN licensure examination

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which selected demographic characteristics and academic variables of graduates from an urban. postsecondary practical nursing program could predict students' performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). The research questions were: (1) what proportion of the variance in NCLEX-PN performance is associated with a combination of academic variables and demographic variables? (2) What proportion of the variance in NCLEX-PN performance is associated with academic variables? (3) What proportion of the variance in NCLEX-PN was explained by demographic characteristics? (4) What set of variables provide the best prediction of the NCLEX-PN scores?

The population, N= 261, used for this ex post facto study consisted of postsecondary practical nursing graduates who wrote the NCLEX-PN examination between 1982 and 1987. There was one dependent (criterion) variable for this study, student scores on the NCLEX-PN. There were seven independent (predictor) demographic characteristics and five independent (predictor) academic variables. The data were obtained from student records between February and May 1992.

Data were analyzed using the Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS), an advanced statistical analysis software package. Multiple linear regression analysis was considered appropriate for this study because the approach was consistent with professional and research literature and this study used dichotomous and continuous predictor variables. Results of the data analysis indicated the following:

Based on the data analysis, demographic variables as a set were not predictors of success on the NCLEX-PN. However, with this population, the number of minor children under sixteen years of age in the students' families accounted for 6% of the variance in the NCLEX-PN.

The academic set of variables accounted for the greatest amount of variance in the NCLEX-PN. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the variance in NCLEX-PN performance is explained by scores on the PNEE and four NLN Achievement Tests: Mental Health, Pharmacology, Maternity Nursing and Nursing of Children.

Recommendations for further study included investigations into the relationships between specific content examinations in the NLN Achievement Tests and performance on the NCLEX-PN and further data analysis be conducted to determine if there are academic variables or demographic variables that stand alone as predictors of success on NCLEX-PN.