NONPF 38th Annual Conference
Measuring APRN Outcomes with Standardize Testing
To assure a match between education and clinical competencies, certification is a commonly legislated practice eligibility mandate. Graduate nursing faculty are implementing standardize certification predictive testing, exit exam benchmarking, and remediation strategies to facilitate student success on national certification examinations.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive rate for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse success on national advance practice certification testing for a cohort of graduate Family Nurse Practitioner students. In addition, testing reports served as the basis for formative evaluation, remediation, and self-directed student learning.
Methods: After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, a cohort of students was invited to participate in testing and report review. The Elsevier HESI Family Nurse Practitioner Exam (FNP) consisting of 110 items was taken electronically and individualized score reports were printed at the conclusion of the exam. Faculty reviewed exam outcomes and reports with the participants and action plans were developed.
Results: Twenty-one (84%) of the 25 students participated, 19 females and 2 males. All students were enrolled as part-time students, 17 were African-American and one each was Hispanic, Caucasian and Asian. Most students had been Registered Nurses for five or more years. HESI score ranges for the FNP Exam were from 604 to 1035 with a mean of 801, mode of 865, and standard deviation of 119. All students tested to date (n=16) have passed the American Academy Nurse Practitioner Family certification. The remaining 4 students are scheduled to take the examination within the next month. Remediation strategies implemented by the participants in preparation for the end of program testing/certification exam were faculty review seminars (91%), peer group sessions (29%), live review course (86%), audio/video aids (29%), and self-study (43%). Lessons learned from program evaluation will be discussed.
Conclusions: HESI Exit standardize testing 1) measured students’ application of knowledge to clinical practice situations; 2) predict certification exam success; 3) identified specific areas for remediation; and 4) contributed to program curriculum evaluation and accreditation.