Nurse leaders weigh in on NCLEX pass rate decline, impact on workforce readiness

Editor's Note

The NCLEX pass rate for RNs fell sharply in early 2025, but many nurse leaders see the drop as temporary rather than cause for alarm, Becker’s Hospital Review August 12 reports. The first-quarter pass rate declined to 71.6%, compared with 79.1% in the same period of 2024. The decrease affected US-educated and internationally educated nurses, as well as both first-time and repeat test takers.

As detailed in the article, declining NCLEX pass rates are not new. After years of erosion among US-educated first-time candidates, the exam was revised in 2023 to better measure clinical judgment and critical thinking. That first year brought a notable improvement, with rates rising from 70.4% in mid-2022 to 81.4% in mid-2023. While test developers attributed the increase to better transparency and outreach, critics argued the exam had simply become easier. Rates are once again trending downward.

Leaders interviewed by Becker’s pointed to several possible drivers. Timothy Carrigan, PhD, RN, of Trinity Health, linked the decline to pandemic-era disruptions in education, when many future nurses were learning under rapidly shifting conditions. Others, like Premier Health’s Lisa Gossett, MSN, RN, highlighted uneven school preparation for the exam’s new scenario-based format. She suggested not all programs adapted quickly enough to ensure students were ready.

CommonSpirit Health’s Tim Plante, MSN, RN, noted rising nursing school enrollment may also be a factor, bringing in a broader range of student skill levels. He voiced concern that even modest dips in pass rates can slow workforce entry, as graduates must wait 6 weeks before retesting. Susan Reeves, EdD, RN, of Dartmouth Health, echoed concerns about the exam’s new format while also pointing to a lingering “COVID hangover” in clinical education that may still be affecting graduates.

Not all systems are experiencing declines. Stony Brook University Hospital’s Carolyn Santora, MS, RN, said her organization maintained a 96% pass rate thanks to early curriculum adjustments aligned with the new exam. Similarly, Helen Staples-Evans, DNP, RN, of Loma Linda University Health reported pass rates near 95% or higher, crediting strong local nursing schools and proactive program design.

Overall, most expect scores to stabilize as faculty and students gain experience with the updated exam and as the lasting effects of the pandemic on nursing education continue to fade.