Standardized Exit Exams and Next Generation NCLEX-RN: Examining Policies and Success Outcomes

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the validity of a widely used standardized exit exam (E2) as a predictor of Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) and examined the relationship between policies governing E2 use in programs and success on the NGN. METHOD: A total of 32 programs across the United States and Canada provided NGN outcome information for 1,753 students who took the E2 in April to December 2023, and 36 programs provided information about their policies. RESULTS: Students who achieved an average E2 score of 850 and above had an NGN first-time pass rate (FTPR) of 98%, significantly higher than those with average scores under 850. Policies such as test preparation requirements and remediation for the E2 were associated with significantly higher student E2 benchmark attainment. CONCLUSION: This study presents updated evidence on the validity of the E2 and expands research in the ways specific policies can support student success on the E2 and, by extension, potentially the NGN.