Cheryl Armstrong’s Journey in Nursing Education
Cheryl Armstrong always knew she wanted to be a nurse or teacher. Now, with 20 years of experience as a labor and delivery nurse, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is also nurturing the next generation of nurses as an Associate Professor, Clinical at the University of Utah College of Nursing. Her dedication to creating a supportive educational experience — from her students’ first semester through their NCLEX® exam preparation with UWorld — reflects her commitment to an enriching learning environment.
The Search for an NCLEX Prep Solution
After starting at the university in 2016, Cheryl and a colleague noticed a pattern: Nursing students who were not performing well in the initial stages of the program struggled the most with NCLEX-style questions. Attempts to use multiple prep resources failed because they did not provide the immediate detailed feedback necessary for deep learning and the flexibility students desired to fit their busy schedules.
Cheryl’s goal was to find a solution that addressed these challenges and also seamlessly integrated into the existing curriculum, which has produced high academic achievement over the years. Most importantly, she wanted to create an actual course to support her students from NCLEX prep into the careers they eventually would build.
“When the university started doing holistic admissions, I thought to myself, ‘Hey, we might be accepting a more diverse group of students in this program, but how are we supporting them?’” Cheryl said. “I would always talk to students and ask them what we could do to help them be successful. I kept hearing ‘UWorld.’”
Integrating UWorld into Utah’s Curriculum
Intrigued by students’ feedback, Cheryl and her colleague explored UWorld’s offerings and were impressed by the platform’s high-quality practice questions and extensive answer explanations. Recognizing the potential benefits, Cheryl advocated for the integration of UWorld into the nursing program.
"UWorld now provides our students with a valuable and validated source to help them be successful on the NCLEX,” Cheryl said. “In addition to thousands of practice questions, UWorld also offers in-depth rationales — and that is where the real learning takes place.”
UWorld was gradually embedded into the curriculum over 3 semesters, starting with smaller, manageable quizzes during the second semester and expanding to more comprehensive assessments as students progressed. Cheryl integrated UWorld into various courses, including clinicals, mental health, and transitions to professional practice. The latter course became a required step in the university’s nursing program. It focuses on helping students learn through UWorld’s rationales. UWorld assignments were graded in each course — contributing to 5% of each student’s grade — and allowed for remediation to ensure they could make up any lost points.
Cheryl said UWorld’s reporting proved to be especially valuable for tracking student progress and identifying those who needed additional support. She used student data to tailor remediation efforts, ensuring students received the help they needed to succeed. The flexibility of UWorld’s question bank allowed for various quiz formats, including tutor, timed, system-based, and random question modes, building student confidence and content proficiency.
Remarkable Improvements in NCLEX Pass Rates
Over 3 semesters, NCLEX pass rates at the University of Utah steadily increased after UWorld was introduced: 91% in Spring 2023, 95% in Summer 2023, and 100% in Fall 2023. Students reported boosted confidence and readiness for the NCLEX, attributing their success to UWorld’s rigorous practice questions and in-depth explanations.
Qualitative feedback from students echoed these sentiments. Those who had previously struggled found UWorld’s rationales helpful in understanding why certain answers were correct or incorrect, leading to a deeper comprehension of nursing concepts. Cheryl also noted an overall improvement in other course performances and clinicals requiring critical thinking.
Future Plans for UWorld Integration
Cheryl plans to advocate for using UWorld from the first semester of the nursing program, ensuring that part-time students also have access to these resources. She aims to integrate UWorld into all courses, making it an important part of the learning experience. Cheryl’s advice to other nursing educators is clear: Embed UWorld into your curriculum, make it worth points to ensure student engagement, and foster a culture of support and encouragement.
The success story of Cheryl Armstrong and the University of Utah’s nursing program underscores the transformative impact of UWorld’s NCLEX prep resources. By prioritizing UWorld’s quality study materials and comprehensive support, the University of Utah’s nursing program has set a new standard in nursing education, preparing students to excel on their exams and beyond.
