Supporting student success on the practical nurse (PN) licensure exam: The Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) PN Exit Exam Study.

Background: Practical Nurses or Vocational Nurses (PNs/VNs) complete a 12-month certificate program and must successfully complete the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) prior to practice. While the scope of their practice is more circumscribed than the Registered Nurse (RN), they contribute significantly to healthcare throughout the U.S.

NCLEX-RN readiness: HESI Exit Exam validity and nursing program policies.

Background: The HESI® Exit Exam (E2) has been used to assess student readiness for the NCLEX-RN® examination for over two decades.

Purpose: In this study, we examined the relationship between students' average E2 scores and their first time NCLEX-RN pass or fail outcomes to understand the validity of the E2 as a predictor of NCLEX-RN readiness. In addition, we examined the relationship between policies governing E2 use in programs and success on the NCLEX-RN.