Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Comprehensive Predictor Scores as Proxy for the NCLEX-RN

Background: Research is needed to examine whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected nursing students' NCLEX-RN pass rate. A decline in the NCLEX-RN pass rate would be detrimental to the nursing workforce, the nursing shortage, and nursing educational programs. This quantitative comparative study analyzed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students' Comprehensive Predictor scores as a proxy for the NCLEX-RN. Method: An independent t test was conducted to test for a difference in Comprehensive Predictor scores of nursing students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in Comprehensive Predictor scores before and during the pandemic. Conclusion: Because there was no significant change in nursing students' pass rate on the Comprehensive Predictor as a proxy for the NCLEX-RN during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of new graduate nurses entering clinical practice is expected to remain the same as pre-pandemic levels.