The impact of computerized testing on performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses

Antionette Crombie Rawls, Tennessee State University

Abstract

This study investigated whether there was a statistically significant difference between the passage rates of associate degree nursing graduates who took the NCLEX-RN by the paper-and-pencil method and the passage rates of nursing graduates who took the NCLEX-RN by computer adaptive testing. The population examined consisted of 255 subjects who graduated from the associate degree nursing program at Tennessee State University in 1993 and 1998. Subjects ranged in age from 21 years to 53 years. The majority (87.5%) of subjects were females and 12.5% were males. Whites accounted for 76.2% of the sample, Blacks 21.9%, Hispanics 1.2%, and Asians 0.8%. The research method utilized was an archival survey. Analytical methods utilized to examine data included the chi-square test, the t-test, and descriptive statistics. Study results revealed that method of administration (paper-and-pencil versus computer) had no effect on the annual NCLEX-RN pass/fail rates. Term of graduation from the nursing program was found to make a statistically significant difference in NCLEX-RN pass/fail outcome. Spring graduates were more likely to pass the examination than graduates of the fall or summer semesters. Grade point averages of graduates passing the NCLEX-RN were higher than those of graduates failing the examination. White graduates were found to have higher grade point averages than Black graduates. Grade point average was a good predictor of NCLEX-RN performance for White graduates; however, it proved to be a poor predictor of performance for Black graduates in the study. In this study, grade point averages for Black graduates was the same for both the pass and fail group. Recommendations for further research were provided.

Subject Area

Educational evaluation|Health education|Nursing

Recommended Citation

Antionette Crombie Rawls, "The impact of computerized testing on performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses" (2000). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI3007588.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3007588

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