Seeking a Rigorous and Comprehensive NCLEX Solution
Nursing students at the University of St. Francis faced significant challenges in their NCLEX-RN preparation. While the department used other NCLEX-prep resources, it struggled to find a comprehensive solution that provided the rigor needed to push pass rates beyond 85%. Dr. Maria Martinez noted that “the practice questions didn’t have the depth necessary to foster the critical thinking skills essential for the NCLEX.” That left room for improvement.
Dr. Martinez, an alumna of the University of St. Francis and a nurse educator with over 16 years of experience, joined the faculty in 2022 with a mission to improve student preparedness and NCLEX pass rates. “It’s not just about passing the exam. It’s about preparing our students for real-world nursing,” she said. This vision, shared by her dedicated colleagues, laid the foundation for a new, more rigorous approach to NCLEX preparation.
Finding the Right Solution with UWorld’s NCLEX Prep
St. Francis turned to UWorld’s NCLEX-prep resources to overcome its challenges and improve student outcomes. Dr. Martinez first learned about UWorld while at the former Oak Point University in Chicago, where she saw firsthand the positive feedback from students and the rigor of UWorld’s question bank (QBank). When she introduced UWorld to the faculty at St. Francis, there was some initial resistance. “It took a lot of buy-in from the faculty,” Dr. Martinez said. But the results quickly proved the program’s effectiveness.
The nursing program integrated UWorld into its curriculum through structured weekly assignments. Students were required to complete a minimum of 50 UWorld practice questions per day, with that number gradually increasing to 150 questions as the semester progressed. Assignments were mandatory and made up a portion of students’ final grade. To ensure mastery, students were expected to score at least 85% on each assignment, with any missed benchmarks requiring resubmission. Additionally, students were encouraged to use UWorld's detailed explanations to understand why each answer was correct or incorrect, reinforcing critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills.
In the classroom, Dr. Martinez made UWorld a focal point of instruction by projecting questions on a screen and facilitating group discussions. “We went through each answer choice,” she said. “It was a lot of repetitive drilling, but it worked, and the students really benefited from the process.”
Significant Gains in NCLEX Pass Rates and Student Preparedness
Since incorporating UWorld into its NCLEX prep curriculum, the University of St. Francis has experienced substantial improvements in quantitative and qualitative measures. In 2022, after Dr. Martinez began teaching the NCLEX prep course with UWorld, pass rates surged from 85% to 98% within 1semester. By the end of the year, the program achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate. “It was a phenomenal increase,” Dr. Martinez said, noting that integrating UWorld’s NCLEX content and resources was instrumental in this success.
The positive impact extended beyond exam scores. Students reported feeling significantly more confident in their ability to tackle the NCLEX thanks to UWorld’s detailed answer explanations and realistic question formats. These features helped students master difficult content areas such as pharmacology and pediatric nursing, which had previously been stumbling blocks. Dr. Martinez observed that UWorld's focus on critical thinking and clinical reasoning allowed students to move beyond surface-level memorization. “It’s the critical thinking skills they develop,” she said. “The deeper understanding helps them apply knowledge effectively on the exam and in real-world nursing.”
Students also highlighted improvements in test-taking strategies, noting that UWorld’s practice questions closely mirrored the difficulty and structure of the actual NCLEX, further preparing them for exam day. These qualitative improvements contributed to higher levels of student engagement and confidence, reinforcing the overall success of UWorld in enhancing academic performance and clinical judgment.
Sustaining Long-Term Success with UWorld
With the success of UWorld’s NCLEX-prep resources, the University of St. Francis plans to continue integrating UWorld into its nursing curriculum. Dr. Martinez emphasized the importance of maintaining a rigorous, structured approach to NCLEX preparation. “The key is repetition and accountability,” she said, referring to the regular practice questions she assigns and the clear benchmarks she sets for her students.
Looking ahead, Dr. Martinez encourages other nurse educators to consider UWorld for their programs. “I would highly recommend it,” she said. “UWorld is a tool that works, and with the right faculty support, it can lead to phenomenal outcomes.”
As the University of St. Francis continues to refine its NCLEX-prep strategies, UWorld remains a cornerstone of its approach to developing the next generation of nursing professionals.
