Abstract
Current turbulent times in health care are exacerbated by a shortage of registered
nurses (RNs), challenging nurse leaders to explore opportunities for improving RN
retention. National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates are declining,
and an upcoming change in the NCLEX-RN exam is likely to intensify that decline. On
average, 18% of graduate nurses (GNs) fail on their first NCLEX-RN attempt, and less
than 43% are successful on retest attempts. Therefore, the GN who fails on the first
attempt is likely to not be retained for the RN position for which they were hired.
A consideration in supporting the GN who fails to retest success is that the most
prevalent demographic among GNs is Generation Z. Individuals in this generation display
characteristics that impact their ability to negotiate the high-stakes NCLEX-RN exam.
Based on experience coaching Generation Z GNs to NCLEX-RN success, the author provides
recommendations for coaching to support NCLEX retest success. Nurse leaders in hospital
settings are encouraged to consider adopting these recommendations to improve RN retention
among GNs who experience NCLEX failure.
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Biography
Cheryl W. Thompson, DNP, RN, PHCNS-BC, is Professor (Retired) and Adjunct Faculty at York College of Pennsylvania in York, Pennsylvania. She can be reached at [email protected]
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 20, 2022
Accepted:
November 28,
2022
Received:
November 11,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
2022 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
