| Nursing leaders have determined that one core competency of the new nursing graduate is the ability to effectively manage nursing care in the complex world of healthcare. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which a licensure predictor exam was related to age and educational level using a sample of associate degree (ADN) and baccalaureate nursing (BSN) students. A subset of questions addressing this ability is included in both the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI), a licensure predictor exam. To date, no research has been completed to compare whether ADN or BSN students perform better on management questions on the HESI exit exam.; A factorial study was conducted on 68 ADN and 66 BSN nursing students in the state of Illinois during the spring of 2001 using HESI management scores obtained from the HESI Corporation. Using two-way ANOVA, it was determined that there was an interaction between educational preparation and age of nursing students as reflected by HESI management scores. Specifically, HESI mean management scores for older baccalaureate participants were lower than for older associate degree participants, while the HESI management scores for two of the three younger groups of baccalaureate participants were higher than the corresponding means for the younger groups of associate degree categories. Recommendations for nursing education that include nursing theory, program development, remediation, and gatekeeping were addressed. |
