VARIABLES RELATED TO PERFORMANCE ON THE STATE BOARD NURSING EXAMINATION IN ARKANSAS' VOCATIONAL PRACTICAL NURSE PROGRAMS.
Contributors: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville campus)
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 108
Subjects: Education, Vocational.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The Problem. The major purpose of this study was to explore selected variables related to passing or failing the State Nursing Board's Practical Nurse Examination for licensure. A secondary purpose was to explore why there is a distinct difference in the pass to drop-fail rate of the practical nurse programs located in Arkansas' three geographical regions.

Method and Procedures. Fifteen variables were selected. Ten of the variables were labeled "entering variables" since they were available when the course of study began. Five variables were labeled "in-course" since they became available as the course of study progressed.

The population was 930 practical nurse students enrolled in Arkansas' 24 vocational technical schools on October 12, 1981. The practical nurse programs were located on a state map depicting the three geographical regions. They were randomly sampled on a regional basis.

The predictive relationship between the variables and the criterion, the State Board Examination scores, were analyzed using means and their standard deviations, Pearson correlations, cross-tabulation and multiple regression.

Findings. The following findings are presented as a result of this study: (1) The students most likely to pass the State Board Examination are over 30 years old, married, have family responsibilities, work while going to school, and are White. (2) The students most likely to fail are younger, single (divorced), do not work while going to school, receive government funding, and are Black. (3) Students in Region One score higher and have fewer drop-fails than those in Region Two or Three. Likewise, Region Two students score higher than those in Region Three with fewer drop-fails.

Recommendations. The following recommendations are presented as a result of this study: (1) All practical nurse program officials in Region Two and Three should evaluate their selection criteria in an attempt to reduce drop-outs and failures. (2) Program officials should investigate standardized tests which will indicate a personal commitment to program completion. (3) All vocational schools should have a full-time certified counselor. (4) Teachers should use the Three Units of Content scores and the Teacher Grade-Point Average results as a counseling tool for in-course progress. (5) Further research should be designed to investigate all drop-fails to ascertain common variables.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-05, Section: A, page: 1708.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, 1986.

School code: 0011.