RELATIONSHIP OF PREDICTOR VARIABLES TO LICENSING EXAMINATION SCORES FOR PRACTICAL NURSES.
Contributors: Georgia State University.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 109
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Adult and Continuing.; Education, Tests and Measurements.
Description: Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine which of the screening tests currently used for practical nursing applicants in Georgia schools is most reliable in predicting a passing score on the state licensing examination.

Methods and procedures. The population included all persons who have applied for entry into practical nursing programs. The sample consisted of 398 candidates who wrote the licensing examination for practical nurses in Georgia in October, 1987. The candidates represented 35 of the 43 practical nursing programs in the state.

Data were subjected to the following analyses: (1) Subscores of each admission test were used separately as predictor variables in direct entry and stepwise multiple regression analyses. (2) Scores on the state licensing examination for high school graduates and candidates with General Education Development diplomas were compared using analysis of variance.

Results. Analysis of the data revealed that the Scholastic Aptitude Verbal Test, Career Placement Program Reading Test, race, and age were significant predictors of success on the licensing examination for practical nurses.

Conclusions. Measurement of reading ability should be an important factor in admission decisions. Although other subtests were not significant, additional research related to those skills would offer educators a broader basis on which to make admission and curriculum decisions. Research with randomly chosen subsamples is needed to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the effect of race and age on State Licensing Examination scores.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-07, Section: B, page: 2851.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1989.

School code: 0079.