Predicting HESI® Exit Exam Success: A Retrospective Study.

Controversy surrounds the use of standardized exit exams to predict and prepare students for NCLEX success. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between Kaplan integrated exam scores and the HESI® exit exam score to determine early indicators of success on the exit exam. A retrospective records review was used to explore relationships between performance on integrated tests and the standardized exit exam. A solid Kaplan comprehensive medical surgical exam score was highly correlated with success on the HESI exit exam. Tracking and follow-up resulted in exit exam success for nearly all students.