Do NLN exams really indicate how well one does on boards?

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Our class took the NLN exam about a month ago, and just got the grades back. Our instructors said that the exam is an indicator of how well we will do on boards. (We still have over a year to go) They said that most students who score over the 50th percentile will pass boards, and if you are below the 50th percentile, you have a lot of work to do.

I am excited that I made the 96th percentile, but I wonder how accurate an indicator it really is. It is a great boost for me either way, because I've been feeling kind of down this semester. Last semester I was an A student, this semester I am happy to get a C. (our grading scale is 80-86 is a C, 87-94 is a B, and >94 is an A)

Morale is pretty low in our class recently because there is so much information we need to know in such a short time, it seems impossible. The questions on our unit exams seem to be mostly based on subjective material, and there always seem to be two right answers to every question. Although I have passed every test (sometimes just barely), the class average is usually in the mid 70's range, which is failing in our school. I have often wondered if I am just a good guesser!

I don't want to get too happy about my score just yet! Has anyone heard about the NLN exams being similar to the boards?

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I graduated last May and we took the NLN exam as a class last March. When our results came back, we were told the same thing as you that this was an indicator of how we would do on the NCLEX. I was absolutly devastated because I only scored in the 47th percentile (and I was an A/B student graduating with honors) and I thought I was doomed on the boards. Well I am very happy to say that I passed the NCLEX the first time and had to answer only 76 questions. Your score is great and I am sure you will pass the NCLEX, I personally did not feel however, that the NLN exam was a true indicator of how one will do on their boards, but this is only my opinion based on my experience. Good Luck!

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I graduate in May and next week we will be devoting time to taking the NLN test also. The program I am in requires us to take the test, and score above 30%, if one scores any lower a remediation class and then an additional test is required to graduate.

This was all implemented after last year, one of the graduating students got a 3% on one of the NLN tests...the instructors and the program director were not happy so now we fall under the new policy. I can understand why!!

I'm not sure what kind of an indicator this test is, I just know it is taking time away from material we have yet to cover and we graduate in 7 weeks.

Best of luck to you! Dont be too hard on yourself with these practice tests, what really matters is the NCLEX!

~Channa

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

My nursing school required their nursing students to take the Mosby's Exam before graduation. The test score was not counted against you as far as being able to graduate, but you couldn't graduate without taking it. For those students who did not pass the exam, they had to take a remedial course before they could sit for boards. These tests are a wonderful idea, and should continue to be given. ;)

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we had to take the Mosby too. Junior year before we started clinicals and this saturday again to see how much we changed.

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We had to take Mosby too. Just last semester. You have to pass it at my school or you don't graduate. They give three chances to pass it though, so I don't think many people would flunk it three times, but what do I know. I was just glad I passed the first time.

Since I haven't yet taken the NCLEX, I can't really say if these tests are accurate reflections or not. I would like to think so, but again . . . what do I know :)

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

As I can best recall, when I sat for state boards, the test questions were majority "psyche" related. I'm not referring to the type patients and diagnosis you see on a psyche ward, I am referring more to therapeuatic communication between what is observed and what is subjective with each patient. Most of the patient diagnosis, treatments, and meds were those I recall taking care of on a med/surg floor as a CNA and throughout my clinical rotations. There were some drug calculations, matching of drugs to expected side effects and what the drug was used for, and many nursing measures to be applied with various ailments in patients.

I sat for the two day exams for state boards, and one had to achieve a minimum of 1600 points collectively to pass state boards. I passed the first try, and my college's pass rate with nursing students was anywhere from 98% to 100% five years previous to the year I sat for boards, so I know I gained a hell of a great education! All but one of my professors for both nursing and non nursing classes were Master Degree and above, and my one instructor who only had her BSN was working on her MSN because it was a requirement for her to continue teaching at that college. The reason they allowed her to teach was because she was the best at what she did, so she taught our OB/Mother-Baby/L&D rotation - both clinicals and didactics. Everyone of my psych instructors had doctorate degrees, and a few of my sociology instructors had their doctorate degrees as well. My college was number one in my opinion, and everywhere I worked as a nurse when doing traveling nursing, everyone wanted to know what school I went to because they were always amazed at how well I performed as a nurse for being just 6 months out of school. I owe it all to my wonderful instructors, and my motivation to succeed in the program! :)

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