Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1539852
19 NURSING SPOTLIGHT format aer years of experience. With the new format, they don't yet have that same depth of familiarity, which may be affecting pass rates. From my perspective as a system CNO, my main concern is that lower pass rates slow our ability to bring new graduates into the system. With an 8% fail rate, those nurses must wait about six weeks before retaking the exam. at delays their entry into practice. Of course, people have always failed the NCLEX; some just aren't strong test-takers. Our role is to support them, especially if they're already part of our organization, with study resources and time to prepare. Susan Reeves, EdD, RN. System Chief Nurse Executive at Dartmouth Health (Lebanon, N.H.): I have to admit [the NCLEX declining pass rates] surprised me. Our health system operates in New Hampshire and Vermont, and both states experienced high pass rates. New Hampshire actually has the highest pass rate in the country. So, hearing about an 8% national drop was surprising. I always say nursing education comes down to two things: excellent faculty and quality clinical experiences. ere are two potential drivers behind the national dip. First, the introduction of the new "Next Gen" NCLEX. Whenever a format changes, pass rates oen drop while faculty and students adjust. is new exam is heavily focused on clinical judgment, which requires different preparation and test-taking skills. Second, we can't discount the lingering impact of COVID-19. During the pandemic, students lost in-person learning opportunities and clinical placements. ose disruptions may still be affecting graduates who are now sitting for the exam. I think this is what I'd call a "COVID hangover" in education. at said, I don't find a one-year dip particularly alarming. I expect pass rates will recover as everyone adapts to the new exam format. Carolyn Santora, MS, RN. Chief Nursing Officer And Chief Regulatory Officer at Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital: [e NCLEX pass rates are] certainly being talked about — you see it in the literature and in the news. We're fortunate, because I haven't noticed that drop here. We hire new graduates under a permit. Almost 100% of those we hire pass, and many come from our own School of Nursing. While some schools have seen pass rates as low as 72%, our school maintained 96% last year. e cause of the decline is probably because of the new exam format. is shi has been challenging for some programs. Stony Brook anticipated the change and adapted the curriculum to a case-based, critical thinking model. at preparation has been key to maintaining our pass rate. Because many of our hires are Stony Brook graduates, we haven't seen the drop here, but nationally, it is an issue. Helen Staples-Evans, DNP, RN. Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health Hospitals: Over the past two years, our average NCLEX pass rate has risen to approximately 95%, with at least one cohort achieving a 100% pass rate. We have increased enrollment while simultaneously improving student outcomes. Loma Linda University Health is blessed with our own School of Nursing but also surrounded by a number of excellent nursing schools. is means that recruitment of new graduates is currently not a challenge. n CRNA pay growth slows as demand cools By Paige Twenter I n recent years, compensation has been growing for 1099 certified registered nurse anesthetists and nurse anesthesiologists, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. During the last three to four years, 1099 CRNAs and nurse anesthesiologists have experienced 15% to 25% wage increases — and during high demand, these contracts were being renewed every six months, the AANA said in a June 23 post. This trend has since stabilized. CRNAs and nurse anesthesiologists earn a median salary of $251,000. In the 1099 market, they earn between $200 and $250 per hour, according to the AANA. In the hospital industry, fewer organizations are changing anesthesia provider groups compared to historical rates. This decrease in "contract churn," the AANA said, is slowing the trend of pay raises. "We're not seeing hospitals change anesthesia groups as often and as quickly as they have been," said Tracy Young, AANA vice president. "It's expensive to do an anesthesia transition. Hospitals are now starting to reconsider and keep a service they're not 100% satisfied with, but they're keeping it due to cost issues." n Virtual nurses cut length of stay, readmissions: 3 study notes By Mariah Taylor V irtual nurses who handle admission and discharges are cutting length of stay times and readmissions, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found. The study, published in ResearchGate, analyzed nearly 28,000 inpatient encounters across two hospitals, one of which implemented a virtual nurse program. Here are three findings: 1. Virtual nursing cut the average inpatient length of stay by more than 7%. 2. The program reduced readmission rates by around 2%. 3. The study found the most significant improvements materialized when virtual nurses were used during admissions, rather than discharges. During admissions, virtual nurses were able to organize information early, such as checking patient history and timeliness of care, which led to better outcomes and a smoother stay, according to an Aug. 8 university news release. n