At the Daytona State College Allen School of Nursing, one challenge became an opportunity to improve outcomes. By adopting UWorld’s prep for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®), the school closed gaps in clinical judgment and elevated first-time pass rates, setting a new benchmark for student success.
Confronting Limitations in Test Prep
Daytona State College recognized the need for a supplemental resource to strengthen nursing students’ success on the NCLEX. As the exam evolved, students required tools that accurately reflected its difficulty. While the school’s existing resources supported many NCLEX item types, gaps were left in student exposure to clinical judgment scenarios.
“We were not able to produce all the item formats using our current learning management system,” said Maxine Hicks, dean of Daytona State’s Bob and Carol Allen School of Nursing.
Pass rates also averaged 90-92%, but the goal was 100%. To close the gap and enhance both student and faculty outcomes, Daytona State turned to UWorld’s NCLEX Learning Platform.
Inspired by Student and School Success
Before engaging with UWorld, Dean Hicks learned that a nursing student had successfully used UWorld’s platform independently. Intrigued, she connected with a UWorld representative who genuinely cared about her college’s challenges and introduced the appropriate solutions. Ultimately, she discovered how UWorld’s learning model could benefit her Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program.
“Even with a busy schedule, I knew I wanted to take that call,” she said. “The rep explained UWorld and how it would help raise my pass rates.”
The University of Michigan-Flint’s NCLEX Success Story also made an impact. This case study outlined the required student usage hours, reflecting a strong accountability model and further instilling her confidence in UWorld’s platform.
Integrating UWorld’s NCLEX Prep
Daytona State initially introduced UWorld’s online NCLEX-prep resources to educators through a grant-supported pilot program. “I guided and directed them,” said Dean Hicks. “It’s a faculty-driven program. I gave them the UM-Flint success story, thinking that might be a good model or way for us to start.”
Hicks shared that the 180-day subscription helped faculty explore the platform’s effectiveness. While some educators used it as remediation for at-risk students, others capitalized on UWorld’s flexible, faculty-driven model. They selected items from the protected faculty Question Bank (QBank) and the student QBank to create practice tests once weekly, assigned 4 summative assessments, and used advanced reporting for professional standards such as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN).
“My representative was so helpful,” Dean Hicks added. “She would come to the classes to enroll students into UWorld and get to know them. She also spoke to all the teachers to get them excited about the product.”
To enhance the experience, educators enabled the self-study QBank. With this feature, students had access to lecture videos, adaptive practice tests, smart flashcards, dynamic study planners, and interactive notebooks. These efforts helped educators integrate UWorld’s platform seamlessly into their curriculum and tailor it to students’ needs.
A Supplement for NCLEX Readiness
After adopting UWorld, Daytona State’s School of Nursing saw first-time NCLEX pass rates climb from the low 90s to 99.24%. This upward trend, combined with positive faculty feedback and increased student engagement, affirmed the value of the Daytona State/UWorld partnership.
Dean Hicks commented, “UWorld was a real blessing because it has all the item formats. The instructors were very excited to use them.”
While faculty members were still using their previous testing program, they knew it wouldn’t accurately replicate the NCLEX. “UWorld provides students with an authentic experience,” said Dean Hicks. “We knew this was as close as we’d get to what the NCLEX actually looks like. That gave us a really good feeling about student readiness. In addition to knowing our students’ preparation matched NCLEX expectations, we no longer had to do all these terrible workarounds.”
Faculty also lauded the quality of the platform’s visual content and video lectures, noting that the presentation was “more appealing than the NCLEX itself.” Dean Hicks went on to praise UWorld’s “clear, clean, and colorful interface. The realistic artwork enhances the learning process, and the platform presents analytic data in an accessible manner.”
The platform’s success extended beyond the numbers and became students’ primary study companion. Those who didn’t pass the exam on their first attempt insisted on using UWorld again to prepare for their retake. Dean Hicks recounted, “They valued UWorld so highly that they didn’t want to be without it.”
In spring 2025, Daytona State continued to engage with UWorld by participating in a Benchmark Test pilot study. Additionally, the college piloted UWorld’s new Courseware, which expanded faculty and student exposure to innovative resources. Dean Hicks plans to continue integrating UWorld through the institution’s accreditation visit in 2028. In doing so, she says she’s confident that the platform will also boost literacy rates, further preparing students for the academic rigor of the ADN program.
These continued efforts speak to the school’s dedication to advancement and providing students with every possible advantage.
“UWorld provides students with an authentic experience. We knew this was as close as we’d get to what the NCLEX actually looks like. That gave us a really good feeling about student readiness.” — Dean Maxine Hicks, Bob and Carol Allen School of Nursing, Daytona State College
A Model for Future NCLEX Success
Daytona State’s teaching modality underscores an unwavering commitment to nursing education. As a true advocate for her team, Dean Hicks listened to the faculty’s needs and sought a practical, proven resource that would integrate seamlessly without disrupting faculty instructional routines. UWorld provided that support with its state-of-the-art Learning Platform and a dedicated representative who guided Dean Hicks every step of the way. However, it was Dean Hicks’ leadership and the dedication of her educators that drove success.
Through thoughtful guidance, empowered faculty, and the right resources, Daytona State’s School of Nursing created a model that balances flexibility with accountability and delivers meaningful results.
By continuing her partnership with UWorld, Dean Hicks will further strengthen initiatives that support nursing student success on the NCLEX.
