The Use of Standardized Exit Examinations in Baccalaureate Nursing Education

To improve pass rates on the NCLEX-RN, many nursing programs have implemented progression policies that require a minimal passing score on a commercial standardized exit examination. In this article, the authors provide an overview of the controversy surrounding the use of these examinations in nursing education, including ethical, legal, cultural, socioeconomic, and technological considerations, as well as discuss their program's exit examination policy, pass rates, and recommendations for the use of exit examinations.