NGN NCLEX Success! Initial Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) scores for April-June and July-September 2023 have been published and the results are positive when compared to the 2022 and 2023 scores BEFORE the NGN exam was introduced across all RN and PN test takers.
Table A tells the story: (https://www.ncsbn.org/publications/2023_NCLEX_Pass_Rates and https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/NCLEX_Stats_2022-Q4-PassRates.pdf)
Table A: Results of Pass Rates for First-Time U.S. NCLEX Test-Takers
| Type of Education | 2022 Results of First-Time RN Pass Rate | 2023 Results of First-Time RN Pass Rate: Jan-March | *2023 Results of RN Pass Rate: April-June | *2023 Results of PN Pass Rate: July-Sept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma | 78.31% | 78.45% | 94.93% | 93.24% |
| BSN | 82.32% | 83.26% | 95.34% | 91.50% |
| ADN | 77.91% | 77.91% | 93.94% | 90.08% |
| PN | 79.93% | 79.93% | 90.07% | 90.65% |
NGN NCLEX Success
While aggregate pass rates for October-December 2023 are pending publication, these initial results are impressive. Factors that may have influenced these higher scores include:
- A research-based, carefully tested licensing examination which places a strong emphasis on Clinical Judgment, a fundamental competency for all levels of nurses in all clinical settings.
- Effective communication between the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and nurse educators regarding the underlying conceptual framework for the NGN (The Clinical Judgment Measurement Model) and new testing strategies designed to determine test-takers’ clinical judgment within realistic clinical scenarios. This communication via webinars and the NCSBN’s website provided sufficient information—and lead time for educators to prepare students for this innovative approach.
- Nursing educators seized opportunities to assess their curricula and teaching-learning/evaluation methodologies. Subsequently, they developed new evidenced-based approaches to equip students for success in the new Next Generation NCLEX—and ultimately, the current and future nursing practice environment.
Kudos to Nurse Educators and Nurse Regulators for collaboratively implementing essential changes so that NCLEX test-takers could demonstrate competencies most important for todays’ clinical environment. However, while we celebrate the achievements of our new graduates thus far, we must also consider how we can maintain this success moving forward.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Continuous quality improvement, a concept well integrated in most clinical settings, emerges as the key to maintaining—and improving nursing students’ proficiency in exercising clinical judgement across varied practice settings. By placing a strategic emphasis on assessing students’ progression in clinical judgment throughout their educational journey and incorporating these assessment markers into the ongoing program evaluation, a program not only reinforces its commitment to excellence, but also enhances the overall evaluation process.
Accreditation and regulatory bodies universally require nursing programs to have a plan of evaluation, typically including factors such as the program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate. Add to this assessment the identification of opportunities for students to demonstrate clinical judgment. Measuring—and reporting– aggregate measures of students’ growth in clinical judgment throughout the curriculum focuses both student and faculty attention on developing this competence.
Below are some measures of clinical judgment that might be included in such an evaluation.
- Evaluation of aggregate scores for clinical judgment on standardized tests given throughout the curriculum and/or as an exit examination.
- Use of the NCSBN Exam Program Reports subscription, (https://www.ncsbn.org/exams/exam-statistics-and-publications/nclex-program-reports.page) which provides information about first-time graduates’ testing between April 1 and March 31st of each year. It encompasses a comparative review of a programs’ performance in various aspects of the nursing role, aiding educators and administrators in pinpointing the areas of strengths and weaknesses within their programs. This evaluation also compares graduates’ results from a particular nursing program with results of graduates of other programs in the same jurisdiction, as well as those from similar programs nationwide, categorized by type (Associate, Baccalaureate, and Diploma). There is a cost for this analysis, just there are costs for standardized tests, but having this data can support the continuous quality improvement approach.
- Evaluation of the extent to which students have an opportunity to practice clinical judgment in each nursing course, making changes as necessary based on student engagement and post-course student evaluation of each course.
- Specification of students’ ability to use clinical judgment in their clinical evaluation form and using this rating as an opportunity to talk to students about the importance of this competency.
- Incorporation of clinical judgment in simulation as part of the scenario or in other occasions to demonstrate clinical competence. When faculty and students focus on improving clinical judgment in a wide range of clinical situations throughout the course of study, measuring and documenting students’ growth (or lack thereof), faculty will be able to make adjustments to better prepare students for the NGN.
- Prioritization of mentoring support for new faculty without recent teaching experience (or recent educational preparation). It’s important to remember the significant amount of work invested by faculty in learning to write test questions that focus on clinical judgment using relevant clinical data as part of the NGN initiative. New faculty may require similar mentoring to ensure their competency in planning learning experiences and testing processes that incorporate opportunities for clinical judgment.
Again, congratulations to all who prepared for the initial roll out of the Next Generation NCLEX. Let’s all commit to continuing this trend!
Best Wishes for 2024!
Susy