Predictors of Academic Success in Baccalaureate Nursing Students: Is ATI TEAS Predictive

Abstract

The population of the U.S. is aging, and the prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing. By 2030 the elderly population of the United States will be twice that of the current senior population, and the national demand for Registered Nurses (RNs) is expected to grow by approximately 21%. Nurses make up the single largest health profession in the United States. The nursing workforce is also aging. The average age of a registered nurse is 48.8 years old. Fifty percent of RNs are age 50 or older, and 12.4% are age 65 or older [1]. The problem is clear; unless more registered nurses enter the field, a critical nursing shortage will exist. The most distressing factor related to the predicted nursing shortage is the number of students who choose a career in nursing, enroll in a program, and fail to graduate, or graduate and fail to pass the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a predictive relationship between academic success in baccalaureate nursing students and essential academic skills of reading, English, math, and science. Using a retrospective, correlational study design, the research revealed that there are indeed predictors of academic success.