A correlational study on Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) composite score and subscores as a predictor of success in semester one of an associate degree of nursing progra

An issue in the Department of Nursing at a two year technical college is retention of nursing students. This issue led the nursing department faculty and counselors to review the admission process and entrance assessment used to determined student enrollment into the nursing program. The entrance assessment selected for admission was the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI). The purpose of this study was to determine if the HESI composite score and subscores are effective in predicting a grade of C or better, which was defined as success in a first semester nursing program. First semester classes for nursing students at a two year technical college are Nursing Fundamentals, Nursing Skills, Nursing Pharmacology and Introduction to Clinical Nursing. The study was designed using a correlational approach including a logistic regression analysis to determine if the HESI is a good predictor of success. The data gathered from 133 participants was HESI scores, first semester nursing class grades and demographic information. The results of this study demonstrated that the HESI scores were not reliable predictors in determining whether students in the nursing program would pass first semester classes. Furthermore, relevant demographic factors were not able to significantly distinguish individuals who passed all first semester classes from those who did not.