Date
1-14-2026
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
Chair
Theresa Pape
Keywords
nursing admission criteria, nursing student retention, nursing student attrition, nursing shortage, nursing faculty shortage, nursing entrance examinations, Health Science Reasoning Test
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Kucerovy, Joyce A.ajkuce, "The Relationship Between the Health Science Reasoning Test and Successful Completion of an Associate Degree Nursing Program: A Retrospective Predictive Study" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7896.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7896
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify whether the addition of an entrance exam such as the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) to the current admission criteria of an associate degree nursing (ADN) education program would aid in selecting students with the highest chance of successfully completing the program and entering the workforce. A nonexperimental, retrospective, quantitative, predictive correlational study design was used. A retrospective convenience sample of 320 first-year nursing students in an ADN education program was obtained. The G* power analysis showed a minimum sample size of 107 students was needed. Statistical analysis involved a multiple regression, independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a Chi-Square test for association. The results of the ANOVA demonstrated that the ranking points and Grade Point Average (GPA) statistically predicted the overall HSRT scores (p = .003). The independent t-test results showed a statistically significant difference in the mean HSRT overall score between completion/noncompletion of the ADN program (p = <.001). The Chi-Square test demonstrated a statistically significant association between the completion/noncompletion and the qualitative description of the overall HSRT scores (p = .009). The study results would add value to the current admission criteria of the ADN program to assist in selecting students with the highest probability of successfully completing the program. Further research should include a larger population of first semester nursing students in multiple ADN programs to allow for generalization to a larger nursing student population.
