Test Anxiety and Academic Procrastination Among Prelicensure Nursing Students

Predictors of NCLEX-RN Failure in Prelicensure Nursing Students

AIM

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of NCLEX-RN® failure and guide nursing program support and resources for at-risk students.

BACKGROUND

Prelicensure nursing programs have adopted stringent admission and progression policies and often delay student testing based on known predictors of NCLEX-RN success. Students also delay scheduling the exam based on their perceived level of test readiness. There is a gap in the literature associated with predictors of NCLEX-RN failure.

METHOD

A retrospective predictive analysis was conducted on 3,396 graduates for the period 2018 through 2022 using demographic characteristics and academic metrics as variables.

RESULTS

Students who were men and students with increased lag time to take the NCLEX-RN (>45 days between graduation and initial attempt) were significantly more likely to fail.

CONCLUSION

Nursing programs using only known predictors of success for admission and progression decisions exclude students who could be successful if given the opportunity.

Anxiety and Academic Procrastination in Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

Deaf and hard of hearing college students encounter unique challenges and pressures in their daily lives and academic pursuits, often leading to heightened anxiety levels, which may increase the likelihood of academic procrastination. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety and academic procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students, with a focus on the mediating role of rumination and the moderating effect of psychological resilience. The findings offer valuable insights into strategies for reducing anxiety and academic procrastination in this population. A total of 685 deaf and hard of hearing college students were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Academic Procrastination Scale, Rumination Scale, and Psychological Resilience Scale. The study revealed three key findings: (1) Anxiety is a significant positive predictor of academic procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students; (2) Rumination partially mediates the relationship between anxiety and academic procrastination, suggesting that anxiety indirectly influences procrastination through rumination; (3) Psychological resilience moderates the relationship between rumination and academic procrastination, with higher levels of resilience diminishing the impact of rumination on procrastination. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between anxiety and procrastination in deaf and hard of hearing college students, within the context of ecosystem theory and resilience theory of development.

Social support and academic procrastination in health professions students: the serial mediating effect of intrinsic learning motivation and academic self-efficacy

The effect of social support on academic procrastination among health professions students and its potential mechanism are yet to be fully explored. A serial mediation model informed by self-determination theory (SDT), was here established to explore that effect, as well as the mediating roles of academic self-efficacy and intrinsic learning motivation. This cross-sectional study involved 596 health professions students enrolled in different majors at a university in Shenyang, China. Data were collected through a questionnaire assessing basic demographic information, social support, academic procrastination, intrinsic learning motivation, and academic self-efficacy. Social support was found to be negatively correlated with academic procrastination. Intrinsic learning motivation and academic self-efficacy were both mediators that partially and jointly mediated the relationship between social support and academic procrastination. These results suggest that multifaceted social and educational interventions aimed at improving social support, intrinsic learning motivation and academic self-efficacy can reduce academic procrastination among health professions students.

Procrastination as a Marker of Anxiety Disorder Among College Students: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study From Puducherry, India

Background and objective Procrastination, which refers to the act of unnecessarily delaying the beginning or completion of an assigned task, is a widespread but often neglected problem among college students. Postponing a task can impair academic performance or lead to stress and poor mental well-being. A knowledge gap exists in understanding the cyclical nature of the relationship between anxiety and procrastination, wherein anxiety leads to procrastination, which in turn exacerbates anxiety. In light of this, we aimed to assess the level of procrastination and anxiety among college students and to correlate the relationship between their procrastination and anxiety status. Methodology A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 347 graduate students from various disciplines at a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, India. A convenient sampling technique was employed to recruit the participants, and data were collected using the validated Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students (PASS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Results Our findings showed that about 124 (35.7%) participants reported weekly reading assignments as the most frequently procrastinated task, with a mean score of 3.15 ± 1.02, followed by studying for exams and writing term papers. The most commonly reported reason for procrastination was evaluation anxiety, followed by low self-esteem and perfectionism. A significant number of students (157, 45.2%) had mild anxiety, and 58 (16.7%) students were found to have severe anxiety. A Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.26 (95% CI: 0.16 - 0.36) was observed between the overall procrastination score and HAM-A score, which indicated a weak positive correlation and was statistically significant (p<0.05). Similarly, a weak positive correlation was found between task aversiveness, fear of failure, and anxiety levels. Conclusions Procrastination is positively related to anxiety but the relationship is weak. Understanding and addressing the underlying anxiety or stress can be a key to managing procrastination among college students.

When to take the primary certification examination: sooner or later?

Most Pathology residents take the Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology primary pathology certification examination(s) near the end of their final year of training (i.e., Spring), whereas some postpone the examination(s) to the Fall administration of that year or even later. We compared the Spring and Fall administration pass rates of initial primary certification candidates for those who graduated in the same year they took the examination. We also compared the pass rates of same-year graduates with individuals who postponed the examination for a year or more. We also surveyed the candidates regarding the reasons they chose the Spring or Fall administration. Candidates who chose the earlier (i.e., Spring) administration were more likely to pass compared with those who took the later Fall administration (p = 0.0026 for Anatomic Pathology; p = 0.0004 for Clinical Pathology). Delaying the certifying exams beyond the calendar year of residency graduation was associated with a higher failure rate (p < 0.0001 for both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology). The survey results suggest that residents often take their certification examinations earlier to not interfere with fellowship training, because it coincides with the completion of residency training, or it is expected by their program. Pathology residents are more likely to pass the primary certification examinations when they are taken closer to the end of training, rather than postponing it to a later administration. Pathology residency program directors should encourage residents, who are deemed ready, to take their certification examinations at the earliest possible administration.

Resilience and positive coping style affect the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students

Background

Previous studies have not investigated the role of resilience and coping style on the association between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among nursing undergraduates. However, how to mobilize the learning enthusiasm of nursing students and reduce the incidence of academic procrastination is an important factor to reduce nursing loss and improve nursing quality.

Objectives

To investigate the influence of maladaptive perfectionism, resilience and coping style on academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sampling method was used to select 665 nursing undergraduates from March to May 2022 in China. Maladaptive perfectionism, coping style, resilience, and academic procrastination were measured using questionnaires. The descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis and the Hayes’ PROCESS Macro in SPSS 25.0 were used to test the model.

Results

The results showed that nursing undergraduates’ maladaptive perfectionism, resilience, positive coping style and academic procrastination were significantly correlated between every two variables, with coefficients ranging between −0.290 and 0.584. In addition, resilience played a partial mediating role in maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination, accounting for 15.70% of the total effect; in the meantime, this process was moderated by positive coping style.

Conclusion

Maladaptive perfectionism positively predicted nursing undergraduates’ academic procrastination; as a mediating mechanism with moderating, resilience and positive coping style further explained how maladaptive perfectionism promoted the academic procrastination of nursing undergraduates. Understanding this mechanism is of great significance for nursing educators to reduce the risk of academic procrastination in nursing undergraduates.

The influence of mobile phone addiction and work procrastination on burnout among newly graduated Chinese nurses

PURPOSE

The study was conducted to explore the relationship between mobile phone addiction, work procrastination, and burnout among newly graduated nurses.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey involving 220 newly graduated nurses in China was conducted from June to July 2020.

FINDINGS

Approximately 60.9% of newly graduated nurses experienced occupational burnout; 72.7% of newly graduated nurses were characterized by moderate or greater procrastination and mobile phone addiction was at a moderate level. Mobile phone addiction and work procrastination were significant factors leading to emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Work procrastination was also an independent predictor of reduced professional efficacy.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Reducing the level of mobile phone addiction and work procrastination among newly graduated nurses might be effective for burnout prevention.

Using bodily postures to reduce anxiety and improve interoception: A comparison between powerful and neutral poses

BACKGROUND

Previous research has shown that anxiety syndromes are highly prevalent among university students. Effective treatments are needed to reduce the burden of anxiety in this population. Powerful postures have been found to impact affective states, as well as interoception (i.e. the ability to perceive inner bodily signals). However, no previous study has compared the effects of powerful- and neutral postures in regards to anxiety and interoceptive ability.

METHODS

The first part of the study measured the single-session effect of adopting powerful- vs. neutral postures on students' (n = 57) interoceptive ability and state anxiety. The second part of the study measured the effect of adopting powerful or neutral postures twice daily for two weeks, on individuals' interoceptive ability and trait anxiety.

RESULTS

State anxiety decreased in both conditions whereas interoceptive accuracy only increased in the power posing condition after a single session. Interoceptive accuracy increased in both groups after two weeks of training.

LIMITATIONS

The study included no comparison to a condition where individuals adopted their natural (i.e. usual) bodily posture.

CONCLUSIONS

Embodiment interventions that include elements of adopting an open or expansive bodily posture whilst maintaining a self-focus, can help to reduce state anxiety and improve interoceptive accuracy in student populations. Power posing does not seem to be superior to holding a neutral posture to improve interoceptive accuracy or anxiety. One reason therefore could be that both conditions include the manipulation of self-focus and a postural change that diverges from individuals' normal posture.

Determining Postgraduation Readiness to Take the NCLEX-RN®

BACKGROUND

This study examined the variables of gender, age, previous degree, first-generation college, type of nursing program, grade point average (GPA), amount of postgraduation recommended preparation completed, average score on recommended preparation examinations, the score on a postgraduation readiness examination, and the NCLEX-RN^® outcome.

METHOD

An exploratory field study approach was used to explore relationships among variables. The study was retrospective and longitudinal with quantitative data collected and analyzed and explored further by interviews.

RESULTS

A postgraduation readiness examination was found to accurately predict the NCLEX-RN outcome. Correlations were found between the readiness examination score and gender, first-generation college, GPA, amount of recommended preparation completed, and average score on recommended preparation tests. Anxiety was the common theme for the outliers.

CONCLUSION

This study provided rich data about postgraduation readiness to take the NCLEX-RN examination and lays the groundwork for further research on postgraduation variables associated with NCLEX-RN success. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(2):101-106.].

Exploring the Human Factors Affecting Health Service Managers: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

In recent decades, managing health-service systems has faced multiple challenges. Identifying and resolving these challenges promote the efficiency and effectiveness of hospital activities.

AIM

The present study aimed to explore the human factors affecting health service managers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this qualitative study, in-depth unstructured interviews were conducted with 29 employees who were in close contact with the health service managers. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were collected using purposeful sampling and were analysed using conventional content analysis via MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

A group of 29 participants were interviewed (male 65.5%, female 34.4%). "Managing managers" has been identified as the primary theme with four supporting secondary themes including the inappropriate appointment of managers, the impact of human and social needs of managers, influential employees, and disrupting organisational communications. These are the challenges faced by managers in managing human resources in health-service organisations.

CONCLUSION

Results showed that employees manage their managers within the organisation so that they can prevent managers from concentrating on their management affairs and tasks resulting in the distortion of management practices. The results of this study can help the key policy makers and planners in health-service organisations to guide the organisation to pursue its goals through appointing appropriate managers and identifying influential employees.