Free Essay On Commercialized Standardized Test

Nursing educators need to access whether their nurse graduates have the essential practice knowledge and skills. Standard tests are useful to enable educators identify the fitness of the nursing graduates before they can be absorbed into the practice (Baudo & Kavanagh, 2011). One of the commercial tests that the nurse educator can use is the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) provided by ATI nursing education Company. The test entails two different types of practice assessment each having 150 questions. The test is designed to allow the student to retake the assessment once again after the first evaluation. Additionally, the test is online and is designed to cover what is expected in both format and content.
According to Sanders (2010), the ATI proctored assessments are reliable and valid in assisting nursing educators to assess the suitability of their Graduates for practice work. In essence, the proctored assessments exist in two versions, which ensure that students retake different set of questions to avoid predictability and cheating issues. In addition, the questions in the assessments undergo rotation after every six months.
The nursing educator needs to have enough funds to meet the cost of using the ATI Test (Dunn & Gardner-Webb University, 2012). In fact, cost is a major obstacle to the use of the standardized test especially considering that the number of students may be a limiting factor. According to Garner (2009), the cost of the program, including its customized review is approximated to be $770 per student. In future, ATI intends to build a package that will allow educators to access the program based on specific needs. In this respect, the program is anticipated to be more price friendly.
In conclusion, nursing educators need to access whether their nurse graduates have the essential practice knowledge and skills. ATI provides standardized tests pertinent to educators’ evaluations of students. Therefore, it is important to evaluate graduates using the right tests and give considerations to their validity and reliability.

References

Baudo, M., & Kavanagh, R. (2011). The complete idiot's guide to nursing entrance exams. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books.
Dunn, M. J., & Gardner-Webb University. (2012). Predicting NCLEX-RN success utilizing standardized testing. Boiling Springs, North Carolina: Gardner-Webb University.
Garner, C. D. (2009). Predictors of first-time success on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses in five baccalaureate nursing programs in Pennsylvania from 2002 to 2007.
National League for Nursing, & National League for Nursing. (1981). Test services for schools of nursing, 1981-82. New York: NLN.
Sanders, M. L. (2010). Predictive validity of standardized tests used by state licensing boards to measure qualifications of individuals entering professional occupations.