Overcoming Post-Grad Prep Challenges and Low Scores
Belmont College’s nursing students in Saint Clairsville, Ohio, faced significant challenges in preparing for the NCLEX post-graduation. This resulted in persistently low NCLEX scores in the ADN program. Students often felt overwhelmed by the extensive content they needed to recall from previous semesters and struggled to develop the critical thinking skills necessary for the exam. Feedback indicated a pervasive lack of confidence and preparedness, with many students finding existing NCLEX prep resources inadequate — the practice questions they encountered simply weren’t rigorous enough to get them ready for the actual NCLEX exam. The goal was to find a solution that could significantly improve NCLEX pass rates and provide robust support for students post-graduation.
One Belmont Educator’s Dedication to Nursing Education
Karolyn Fox, the Director of Nursing Programs at Belmont, oversaw both the ADN and PN programs at the college. With a rich background in nursing education, she had transitioned to the role in 2017 after starting as an adjunct clinical faculty member in 2009. Fox’s passion centered around working closely with students, watching them succeed, and making a difference in their lives and the community, which is why she knew she had to find a way to support her ADN students with a quality NCLEX resource.
Implementing UWorld for Content Understanding and Test-Taking Endurance
Fox learned about UWorld from a colleague who praised its comprehensive NCLEX prep resources. Impressed by UWorld’s extensive question bank and detailed answer rationales, Fox integrated it into Belmont’s nursing program in 2019. UWorld was introduced primarily for post-graduation mentoring, offering a fresh and engaging NCLEX prep platform for students.
Fox implemented a structured regimen for UWorld assignments. Students were tasked with completing 20-40 questions 5 days a week to better understand NCLEX concepts and take their time with rationales. They were also assigned larger sets of 75-80 questions twice a week to build testing endurance. This approach ensured students maintained a consistent study routine while increasing their ability to handle longer exams.
"Even if you just read UWorld rationales for an evening, that's like a mini content boost of knowledge," Fox said.
UWorld’s robust reporting was a standout feature, allowing Fox to meticulously track student progress. The reports provided insights into each student's performance, including time spent on questions, areas of strength and weakness, and self-assessment scores. This data was invaluable for offering personalized feedback and support.
"UWorld helps to refresh their knowledge and develop the critical thinking skills necessary for the professional nurse not only to pass NCLEX but to provide safe patient care," she said. UWorld’s comprehensive question bank covered a broad spectrum of medical conditions and procedures, ensuring students were well-prepared for the NCLEX and real-world nursing challenges.
Transformative NCLEX Pass Rates and Student Success
Since incorporating UWorld, Belmont College has seen significant improvements in NCLEX pass rates. The ADN program met state and national standards in 2019, the first year of using UWorld after not meeting them since 2008. This marked a turning point for the program.
The PN program has achieved 100% pass rates in 2022 and 2023, highlighting UWorld's role in student preparation. Students have reported increased confidence and readiness for the NCLEX, crediting their success to UWorld's rigorous practice questions and detailed answer explanations. The provided rationales help students understand correct answers and develop critical thinking skills essential for their careers.
Fox’s mentoring, combined with UWorld’s NCLEX-prep educator resources, has created a supportive learning environment. Her structured approach, requiring students to complete smaller question sets daily and larger sets weekly, has built testing endurance and familiarity with the exam format. This regimen has effectively reduced test anxiety and improved performance.
Additionally, UWorld’s reporting features have been instrumental in tracking student progress and providing targeted feedback. Fox can monitor each student's engagement and performance, offering individualized advice and support. This close monitoring and immediate, personalized feedback have been crucial in maintaining high pass rates.
Overall, integrating UWorld has transformed Belmont College's nursing program, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
Changing Lives, One Student at a Time
Belmont College plans to continue incorporating UWorld into its nursing program, involving faculty in continuous improvement efforts.
“I like working with students,” she said. “I like seeing them succeed. I feel like we're changing lives in our community, one student at a time."
Fox advises other nursing educators to remain invested in students’ success even after graduation.
