Impact of hesi specialty exams - dissertation example

Impact of HESI Specialty Exams

Impact of HESI Specialty Exams: The Ninth Exit Exam Validity Study
Literature Review
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to re-examine the effectiveness of the HESI Specialty Exams and to determine its value in the whole of nursing curriculum. The study focused on investigating whether the exams are effective in preparing the student for E2 exams and eventually for the NCLEX-RN (Zweighaft, 2013). In summary, this study aimed at:
Re-examining the accuracy of the E2 in predicting the success of the NCLEX-RN
Exploring the worth of conducting the HESI Specialty Exams in terms of students’ E2 scores
Location
The location of this study was mainly within the US nursing schools.
Variables
Examination of E2scores between those who took part in the HESI Specialty Exams and those who did not take part was done. Therefore, the variables here were the E2 scores and the predictability of the success of the NCLEX-RN. The success of the NCLEX-RN was investigated based on the scores of the E2 exams for those who took or those who did not take Specialty exams. It therefore shows that the dependent variable here was the NCLEX-RN whiles the independent variables ware the E2 scores.
Framework Theory
This study majorly relied on classical test theory and critical thinking theory as the underlying theoretical framework. These two theories were used as the basis for formulating a model for constructing Critical Thinking Test objects that were used in this study. This same model was used for the previously concluded eight studies that were carried out to study the effectiveness of E2 in predicting the success of NCLEX-RN (Zweighaft, 2013).
Description of Measures
The E2 and the HESI Specialty Exam produced by the Elsevier, and the Ninth Validity Study Questionnaire, which was a design of the researcher, were used for data collection. The E2 is always administered during the final semester or quarter of the nursing curriculum. Its blueprint is a reflection of what is there in the NCLEX-RN plan. The HESI Specialty Exams always come at the end of the nursing curriculum. The study mainly used the HESI exams with testing units that are greater than 300. The questionnaire, which had 19 multiple-choice with open fields for comments, was used mainly to gather information from the deans and the directors of the respective schools regarding their policies on E2 and HESI Specialty exams. It also asked questionson the outcomes of the NCLEX-RN (Zweighaft, 2013).
Study Design and Data Analysis
This study made use of Non-Experimental design. All user and none user schools were enumerated and a Random Number generator was used. Deans and directors from 97 schools of nursing were invited. Stratification of random samples of the schools was done based on the three levels, Baccalaureate, Associate degree and diploma. A sample of 3790students from 63 randomly selected schools participated in this study and power analysis indicated that this was a good sample. The study found out that the E2 are highly accurate in predicting the success of NCLEX-RN. The students who took part in Specialty Exams also showed higher means in their E2 scores than those who did not take the Specialty Exams. This was determined using the Welch-Satterthwaite’s test (Zweighaft, 2013).
Recommendations
Since the data obtained in this ninth study are consistent with those of the previous studies, it shows that E2 scores can be good predictors of the success of the NCLEX-RN. The study also indicated that administering HESI Specialty exams improved the E2scores; therefore, schools should administer this exam throughout the nursing curriculum, so that the students’ chances of passing the NCLEX-RN can be increased considerably (Zweighaft, 2013).
Strength and Weaknesses
This study determined the value of HESI Specialty exams in terms of E2 scores for the first time in history, hence its strength. Limitations such as varying expertise among faculties, differences in curricular among schools and individual experiences of the student could have influenced the findings. However, basing our argument on the data obtained, the E2scores can be used effectively to examine the readiness for the NCLEX-RN and the HESI Specialty exams can be used objectively to evaluate the curricular achievement of the students (Zweighaft, 2013).
Reference
Zweighaft, E. L. (2013). Impact of HESI Specialty Exams: The Ninth HESI Exit Exam Validity Study. Journal Of Proffessional Nursing, 29, S10-S16.