How should nursing schools pick students for admission?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Aug 3, 2011

Some ideas:

--critical thinking tests so that all candidates show competency for problem solving. My school had us do one at the beginning of the program after acceptance and then again at the end of the program. Funny thing is that I scored in the same percentile for both tests, but my raw score at the end of the program was worse. :lol2:

--entrance essay graded by rubric for writing competency

--TEAS tests but no COMPASS testing, as COMPASS testing is used to determine math and English class placement with opportunities for remediation

--basic calculation testing

--relevant pre-reqs before acceptance possibilities because all were on the one of more pre-req lists for ABSN programs in my area: AP I and II, micro, chemistry, nutrition, lifespan psychology, stats

sandanrnstudent · Aug 3, 2011

What I suggest:

1- two letters of recommendation (two shows they excel at more than one thing aka they can multitask)

2- math calculations check off (this will deter those that cannot do this fundamental aspect of nursing from getting in a program to start with)

3- have a CNA certification first (this will introduce the students to the field enough to decide if they aren't going to like it. Also, if they cannot pass the CNA check offs then chances are they will not do well in nursing on check offs)

4- a personal statement "exam" (hand written and timed on site. Could be graded for grammatical issues as well as content)

I'm sure more could be set up in way of parameters but these four things would prevent many would-be drop outs from getting in to begin with.

sandan rnstudent

33762FL · Aug 3, 2011

GpA from pre-reqs and prior degrees

Entrance exam scores (NLN, HESI)

SAT score

Essay for writing competency

Personal interview

I would not require CNA certification, that sounds like extra time and money the applicant has to spend and a way to funnel money into CNA cert programs. It also does not guaranteethe student will like nursing nor should the admissions committeehave the right to judge and deny an applicant entrance based on something so unknown and subjective as "will this person like nursing?"

gracieD · Aug 3, 2011

What about an "NCAT"? Law schools and medical schools have come together and developed their own test that covers concepts they find minimally necessary to succeed in their profession, why can't nurses? All of the concepts highlighted by other posts--critical thinking, math, broad concepts from A&P and microbiology, and writing ability--could easily be wrapped up into one exam.

kalevra, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2011

A point scale like 1-100 with point possible from various categories such as

Category 1: Currently Holding a License to practice some kind of DIRECT PATIENT CARE:CNA/LVN/EMT/RESPIRATORY TECH are examples

Category 2: Do they currently hold a position where they use their license (above) with atleast 1 year of experience.

Category 3: Do they hold some type of post high school degree such as AD/AS, BS/BA, MS, PHD examples

Category 4: What are their Anatomy, Microbiology, Physiology, Math (STATISTICS), Medical Terminology, Public Speaking, College Level English, and Chemistry Scores are. All units must be transferable to state university system. First three classes must have a physical lab not internet. You only get ONE redo, or the grades start to count against you.

Category 5: TEAS test Version 5 Score

Category 6: Other Languages

Category 7: Veteran, Single Parent, Poor, Disabled, Need to Work

The higher you score on the TEAS test the more points you get, same goes with the classes mentioned above. As for licenses, language and CAT 7 its a simple yes or no. Yes gets you points, and nos dont get you points. You also need to have completed all of the categories to apply. That means give me your scores from ATI, Official Transcript, and copies of License info. Cat 6 is shown as fluency by either 4 semesters in same language in college, or you have taken some fluency exam. Cat 7 is a freebie just show you are veteran, single, disabled....its built in to give you points.

Notice I didnt mention general ed stuff like ART and Political Science. They are General ed classes that you would still have to do aside from the classes in CAT 4 in order to full fill the gen. ed. req. for a degree.

Making selection on a point scale makes sense to me because you make your selection from the smartest group of people and with experience. Random lotteries are just that, random. You dont know what kind of person you are getting and as long as they reach a minimum grade of a 'C' they can apply in lottery. What happens to those who worked their butts off in school. What happens to those who worked as an LVN and worked their butts off in STATS? Do we say sorry but lady luck isnt on your side today. Or yeah your more intelligent, but we didnt pick your number sorry. Make selection BASED ON MERIT not LUCK!

These are suggestions are based on how my school ADN picks their RN applicants. They did away with lottery a year ago. They have greater detail on their website.

Healthy competition breeds the desire to do better than the other person. RNs must outperform each other clinically and academically to set themselves apart. These go-getters are then able to help patients better.

BSN requirements should be more difficult , especially because those that enter into Military are not only RNs but leaders of soldiers. Since ALL RNs in Active Duty ARMY are Commissioned Officers. These are my thoughts on the subject.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Aug 3, 2011

I agree with above posts. In my state the schools have to achieve a specific pass rate or risk losing accreditation. One way to do that is entrance exams to cull out people who cannot read or write. And there are plenty

ErinS, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2011

1. Experience as a CNA- at least 1 year. This would weed out a lot of people who are uncomfortable with personal care.

2. Personal interview- there are some strange people who get really good grades.

3. A personal essay.

4. 3 personal references

5. Basic prereq classes (bio, A&P, patho, chem, math)

6. While I like the theory behind critical thinking tests, I think this may prevent some people who are just bad test takers from being accepted.

One of the problems in my area is nursing school is so competitive we have been left with cohorts of nursing schools who are largely white females that are young, have no kids, and have a 4.0. While this is fine (in fact, I fit into this generalization), I think there are likely many students with a 3.5 gpa who want to be nurses far more than the students getting in, or who may be better critical thinker, but bad test takers, thus their gpa. I feel a more thorough admission process may help advance nursing in the future.

justashooter · Aug 3, 2011

A point scale like 1-100 with point possible from various categories such as
Category 1: Currently Holding a License to practice some kind of DIRECT PATIENT CARE:CNA/LVN/EMT/RESPIRATORY TECH are examples
Unnecessarily discriminatory and only vaguely related. What about the guy with the helicopter mechanic's liscense? The woman with the teaching liscense?
Category 2: Do they currently hold a position where they use their license (above) with atleast 1 year of experience.
Same deal
Category 3: Do they hold some type of post high school degree such as AD/AS, BS/BA, MS, PHD examples
Same unrelatedness
Category 4: What are their Anatomy, Microbiology, Physiology, Math (STATISTICS), Medical Terminology, Public Speaking, College Level English, and Chemistry Scores are. All units must be transferable to state university system. First three classes must have a physical lab not internet. You only get ONE redo, or the grades start to count against you.
Spot on. This is what indicates potential for graduation and NCLEX passing.
Category 5: TEAS test Version 5 Score
Not used in all states
Category 6: Other Languages
Irrelevant. This is America. We speak english here.
Category 7: Veteran, Single Parent, Poor, Disabled, Need to Work
Social Engineering is discriminatory. Giving points on such basis is unfair to other competitors and results in lower quality nurses.
The higher you score on the TEAS test the more points you get, same goes with the classes mentioned above. As for licenses, language and CAT 7 its a simple yes or no. How do you qualify language competency? Accept someone's word that they are a competent speaker? Accept only evidence of 2 years worth of passing grades from people who can't rememberhow to speak the language at all? Do you give points for Latin? (I had 4 years) Yes gets you points, and nos dont get you points. You also need to have completed all of the categories to apply. That means give me your scores from ATI, Official Transcript, and copies of License info. Cat 6 is shown as fluency by either 4 semesters in same language in college Why not high school, or dual language in childhood home?, or you have taken some fluency exam Jim Crow before you are done. Cat 7 is a freebie just show you are veteran, single, disabled....its built in to give you points. Might be useful in adding an age factor. typically, adult students (up to a certain age) have higher pass rates than traditional students. A statistical analysis demonstrating such statistical correlation could validate adoption of such favorable factoring. Gender factoring might also be explored for reality's sake, but if you're gonna dump on a bunch of social engineering I want 50 points for my gonads as a minority student.
Notice I didnt mention general ed stuff like ART and Political Science. They are General ed classes that you would still have to do aside from the classes in CAT 4 in order to full fill the gen. ed. req. for a degree. So GPA in these really is relevant to probability of success in a nursing program.
Making selection on a point scale makes sense to me because you make your selection from the smartest group of people and with experience. Random lotteries are just that, random. You dont know what kind of person you are getting and as long as they reach a minimum grade of a 'C' they can apply in lottery. Point scale competition makes sense in that it preserves a valuable resource (the seats in nursing clinicals programs), and prevents them from being wasted on individuals who are not likely to graduate from the program.
BSN requirements should be more difficult , especially because those that enter into Military are not only RNs but leaders of soldiers. Since ALL RNs in Active Duty ARMY are Commissioned Officers. RN working in the military services as commissioned officers are nominally in command of those lower ranks they incidentally contact, but that is where the line is drawn. Military command does not allow a commissioned RN to run onto the battlefield and start barking outorders. Such an individual would be dishonorably discharged in short order for not understanding that his authority was well defined and must not be exceeded. Learn a little more about military structure before you comment on it. These are my thoughts on the subject.

In summary, factors that will be useful in predicting the likelihood of an individual applicant's completion of program and passing of NCLEX are the principle relevant factors that should be considered.

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Aug 3, 2011

There are loads of valid points here. The one universal thing I think that is needed is objectivity. By that I mean, as soon as subjective criteria (interviews, entrance essays, etc) are used, you run the risk of allegations of discrimination or favoritism. In today's litigious society, having an objective, point related system makes it perfectly clear to all concerned what it takes to be considered. Sure, in the event of a 'tie' other criteria can be called upon. I realize this type of system often can end up choosing some less than qualified candidates, but what in life is perfect?

33762FL · Aug 4, 2011

I also think that givng extra points towards admission for people who served in the military is discriminatory. Why should anybody be discriminated against for holding the political view of pacifism?

NeedchangeofPace · Aug 4, 2011

I also think that givng extra points towards admission for people who served in the military is discriminatory. Why should anybody be discriminated against for holding the political view of pacifism?

You can be in the military and still be a pacifist.