Title

A Comparison of NCLEX-RN Pass Rates of Nursing Programs by Control of Institutions

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Date of Award

Fall 2015

Abstract

Nursing is a complex profession that requires diligent preparation to meet dwindling United States resources and the growing demand for quality health care. Traditional public and private not-for-profit institutions have been unable to adequately meet the demand for nursing education; therefore, private for-profit institutions have begun to offer professional prelicensure nursing education. The study sample included 26 states that had at least one professional prelicensure nursing program in each type of institution: public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit. Research was conducted to identify and analyze any difference that may exist in the performance of nursing graduates on the NCLEX-RN between public, private not-forprofit, and private for-profit institutions. A Kruskal-Wallis Test revealed a significant difference (p = .000) in the annual NCLEX-RN pass rates for nursing programs between the three types of institutions for each year from 2009 to 2013. The Mann-Whitney U demonstrated increasing differences between the annual NCLEX-RN pass rates for nursing programs in each type of institution for each study year. A comparison of the number of successful nursing graduates during the 5-year study revealed statistically significant (p = .001) differences among the three types of institutional control with nursing programs. Nursing programs in public institutions, private not-for-profit institutions, and private for-profit institutions are different in the number of institutions, the number of successful nursing graduates produced, and their quality indicator: the annual NCLEX-RN pass rates. Nursing leadership, nursing educators, educational administrators, health care facilities, and governmental agencies related to the nursing workforce can use this research to implement changes in nursing education.

Advisor

Jon Travis

Subject Categories

Education | Higher Education

COinS