Walden University
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2023
Nursing Graduates' Strategies for Success on the NCLEX-RN
Karla LaShonda Sanders
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an
authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact .
, Walden University
College of Education and Human Sciences
This is to certify that the doctoral study by
Karla L. Sanders
has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.
Review Committee
Dr. Sydney Parent, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty
Dr. Jeanne Sorrell, Committee Member, Education Faculty
Dr. Ioan Ionas, University Reviewer, Education Faculty
Chief Academic Officer and Provost
Sue Subocz, Ph.D.
Walden University
2023
, Abstract
Nursing Graduates’ Strategies for Success on the NCLEX-RN
by
Karla L. Sanders
MSN-Ed, Walden University, 2012
BSN, Francis Marion University, 2009
Project Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Education
Walden University
June 2023
, Abstract
A nursing program has had difficulty from the years 2015-2022 consistently meeting the
national pass rate requirement during students’ first attempts taking the National Council
Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The purpose of this
qualitative study was to explore perceptions of recent traditional and nontraditional
nursing school graduates regarding which evidence-based learning strategies and
resources were most effective in leading students to be successful during their first
NCLEX-RN attempt. Knowles’ theory of andragogy was the conceptual framework for
this study. Research questions involved traditional and nontraditional nursing graduates’
perceptions of which evidence-based strategies were successful for them. Using a
population of 35 spring and summer 2020 graduates from this nursing program,
purposeful sampling was employed to obtain eight participants, of whom four were
traditional and four were nontraditional. Data were collected by conducting one-on-one
private and semistructured interviews. Using Braun and Clark’s analysis, four themes
were identified: effective classroom techniques, resources to prepare for the NCLEX-RN,
consistent Health Education Systems Incorporated policies, and consistent faculty
guidance. Based on these findings, a three-day professional development training
program was created to review evidence-based teaching strategies that can promote
learning for nursing students. Improving this school’s scores on the NCLEX-RN will lead
to positive social change by increasing availability of nurses in growing communities and
improving the reputation of the school via improved enrollment rates.
ScholarWorks
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection
2023
Nursing Graduates' Strategies for Success on the NCLEX-RN
Karla LaShonda Sanders
Walden University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an
authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact .
, Walden University
College of Education and Human Sciences
This is to certify that the doctoral study by
Karla L. Sanders
has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,
and that any and all revisions required by
the review committee have been made.
Review Committee
Dr. Sydney Parent, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty
Dr. Jeanne Sorrell, Committee Member, Education Faculty
Dr. Ioan Ionas, University Reviewer, Education Faculty
Chief Academic Officer and Provost
Sue Subocz, Ph.D.
Walden University
2023
, Abstract
Nursing Graduates’ Strategies for Success on the NCLEX-RN
by
Karla L. Sanders
MSN-Ed, Walden University, 2012
BSN, Francis Marion University, 2009
Project Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Education
Walden University
June 2023
, Abstract
A nursing program has had difficulty from the years 2015-2022 consistently meeting the
national pass rate requirement during students’ first attempts taking the National Council
Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The purpose of this
qualitative study was to explore perceptions of recent traditional and nontraditional
nursing school graduates regarding which evidence-based learning strategies and
resources were most effective in leading students to be successful during their first
NCLEX-RN attempt. Knowles’ theory of andragogy was the conceptual framework for
this study. Research questions involved traditional and nontraditional nursing graduates’
perceptions of which evidence-based strategies were successful for them. Using a
population of 35 spring and summer 2020 graduates from this nursing program,
purposeful sampling was employed to obtain eight participants, of whom four were
traditional and four were nontraditional. Data were collected by conducting one-on-one
private and semistructured interviews. Using Braun and Clark’s analysis, four themes
were identified: effective classroom techniques, resources to prepare for the NCLEX-RN,
consistent Health Education Systems Incorporated policies, and consistent faculty
guidance. Based on these findings, a three-day professional development training
program was created to review evidence-based teaching strategies that can promote
learning for nursing students. Improving this school’s scores on the NCLEX-RN will lead
to positive social change by increasing availability of nurses in growing communities and
improving the reputation of the school via improved enrollment rates.
