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Newly published research reflecting data from more than 21,000 nursing students demonstrates that ATI's clinical judgment-aligned assessments provide a strong and effective measure of NCLEX readiness while simultaneously supporting early identification of students at risk.¹

The study, published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation in August 2026, examined whether ATI's standardized assessments align with the incorporation of clinical judgment measurement on the NCLEX and predict end-of-program readiness for licensure.

To answer this question, researchers Hanwook Yoo, EdD, Xiaoting Zhong, PhD, Kari J. Hodge, PhD, Beth Phillips, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, and Jami Nininger, DNP, RN, CNE, evaluated the predictive value of ATI standardized nursing assessments before and after the integration of clinical judgment measurement on the 2023 NCLEX-RN test plan.

Key Finding 1: Clinical Judgment Alignment of In-Program Assessments Improves NCLEX Readiness

When clinical judgment became a central focus of nursing licensure, ATI updated its suite of assessments, including the Content Mastery Series^® and Comprehensive Predictor^®, to align with the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

To evaluate the results of clinical judgment alignment in ATI assessments, the study compared assessment data from two periods: a pre-clinical judgment period based on the 2019 NCLEX-RN Test Plan (January 2021-December 2023) and a post-clinical judgment period aligned with the 2023 NCLEX-RN Test Plan (January 2024–September 2025). The research team analyzed data from more than 21,000 nursing students across 253 nursing programs nationwide.

Results showed that ATI's clinical judgment-aligned assessments demonstrated stronger, more consistent relationships with end-of-program NCLEX readiness than earlier versions of the assessments. Correlations between ATI Content Mastery Series assessments and end-of-program performance increased across every content area after clinical judgment integration. Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing, for example, showed one of the strongest relationships with end-of-program readiness, increasing from 0.41 to 0.55.

Key Finding 2: Proficiency on ATI Assessments Is a Strong Predictor of NCLEX Performance

The study also found that students who achieved proficiency on a larger number of ATI Content Mastery Series assessments consistently demonstrated stronger performance on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor and higher predicted probabilities of NCLEX success.

The overall predictive power of ATI's in-program assessments increased substantially after clinical judgment alignment. Specifically, ATI Content Mastery Series assessments explained 34% of the variance in end-of-program performance under the previous framework, compared with 44% under the clinical judgment-aligned framework — demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in predictive accuracy.

The study findings suggest that integrating clinical judgment into standardized assessments creates a more accurate and meaningful picture of student readiness for the NCLEX and for nursing practice, the authors concluded.

Key Finding 3: ATI Assessments Support Earlier Student Intervention

Beyond measuring readiness, the study highlights the value of ATI assessments as tools for identifying students who may need support earlier in their educational journey. The analysis found that performance on Content Mastery Series assessments was a meaningful indicator of later success, enabling faculty to identify learning gaps and implement targeted remediation.

The authors concluded that clinical judgment-aligned assessments provide nursing programs with "more consistent and actionable indicators of student readiness" and support earlier identification of at-risk students while strengthening alignment with licensure and practice expectations.

Growing Research Demonstrates ATI’s Commitment to Evidence-Based Support

The publication of this study adds to ATI's growing body of research validating the effectiveness of its assessment solutions and their alignment with evolving standards in nursing education.^1-5 This is the fifth study of ATI assessment efficacy published in 2026.

As nursing programs prepare students for the cognitive demands of today’s clinical practice and the current NCLEX test plan emphasizing clinical judgment, ATI continues to deliver on its commitment to providing evidence-based resources that help educators measure readiness, guide remediation, and support student success.

This study of clinical judgment alignment provides new evidence that ATI's assessment strategy is working as intended: helping nursing programs more accurately assess readiness for licensure while reinforcing the clinical judgment skills essential for safe and effective nursing practice.

References

1. Yoo H, Zhong X, Hodge KJ, Phillips BC, Nininger J. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Clinical Judgment-Aligned Standardized Assessments in Registered Nurse Education Programs. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnr.2026.07.005

2. Miller JE, Hodge KJ, Yoo H, Taylor K, Phillips BC, Zapparrata N. Predicting Nursing Success Through Standardized Assessments. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. 2026;21(2):e765-e771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.12.021

3. Miller JE, Hodge KJ, Lin Y, Haugan TR, Yoo H, Phillips B. Evaluating Alignment Between the RN Comprehensive Predictor and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Journal of Nursing Education. 2026;65(4):210-214. DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20251121-01

4. Hodge KJ, Miller JE, Lin Y, Yoo H, Phillips B. Evaluating Construct Alignment of the PN Comprehensive Predictor and the NCLEX-PN Test Plan. HSOA Journal of Practical and Professional Nursing. 2026. DOI:10.24966/PPN-5681/100066

5. Zhong X, Yoo H, Turner S, Zeiher W, Phillips B. Psychometric Evaluation of a Standardized Nursing Preadmission Assessment: Evidence From Bifactor Modeling and Measurement Invariance Testing. Journal of Nursing Measurement. 2026. DOI: 10.1891/JNM-2025-0145