ATI TEAS Test Taker Survey

June 2022

Objectives:

  • Understand TEAS test takers’ academic, emotional, and financial preparedness for nursing school, current sentiment regarding application to nursing school, and any COVID-related impacts that may be driving these trends.
  • Where possible, compare results to a similar study conducted in Jan. 2022.

Background

  • An online survey was conducted among a sample of TEAS test-takers who had registered to take the TEAS exam on test dates between 1/13/22 and 2/14/22. (30,100)
    • Attempts were also made to screen out those taking the exam for reasons other than nursing school application.
  • 3,917 qualified respondents completed the survey -- a 13% completion rate.
  • The survey was fielded between 5/31/22 – 6/13/22.

Key Takeaways

  • The vast majority of test takers who did not apply to nursing school are delaying their application or are not yet ready to apply (86%). Among this group, the most cited reason was the desire to obtain a higher TEAS score (69%) – with the overwhelming majority intending to retake the exam (87%). These results are mostly unchanged from January 2022.
  • About 14% of students who had not yet applied to a nursing program changed their mind about a career in nursing. The most common reason was a low TEAS score (35%) but other common factors included: choosing a different career (38%), can’t afford nursing school right now (23%), nursing is less appealing as a career due to nurses’ working conditions during COVID-19 (19%), and family obligations/other responsibilities make it difficult to fit nursing school into their lives (13%). Concerns about affordability and not being able to attend nursing school due to family/other responsibilities were more prevalent among non-white/non-Asian students (32% for non-white/non-Asian students, compared to 17% for White/Asian students). Those saying nursing is less appealing due to nurses’ working conditions are more likely to be White/Asian (23%).
  • Of those who did apply to nursing school, three quarters (74%) were accepted to a nursing program – with most (83%) who applied to more than one program saying they were accepted into their top choice of a program.
  • Concerns about contracting COVID-19 do not seem to be a major deterrent against applying to nursing school and or expressing an interest in nursing as a career. In fact, 39% of those who applied to a nursing school reported that COVID-19 made them more interested in a career in nursing. However, among those who changed their mind about applying to a nursing program, about one-fifth (19 %) said nursing is less appealing as a career due to nurses’ working conditions during COVID-19.

Key Findings

I.) 15% of those taking the TEAS exam did not apply to a nursing school within about five months of their exam date.

  • This percentage is significantly higher than the estimate of 12% from January 2022.
  • Those interested in RN programs (15%) are more likely to not apply than those interested in ADN (12%) or PN programs (11%).
  • Black/African Americans (19%), Hispanics/Latinos (16%), Asians (14%) and “other” races/ethnicities (18%) are more likely to not apply than White students (12%).
  • Students living in urban areas (15%) are more likely to not apply than those living in non-urban areas (11%).
  • The vast majority (86%) of those who had not yet applied to nursing school reported they are delaying their application or aren’t ready yet. These percentages are similar to those observed in January 2022.
    • 69% of those who are delaying their application say that they want/need a higher TEAS score. Among this group, 87% are considering retaking the TEAS exam.
      • Those delaying their application because their TEAS score was too low are more likely to be non-White and non-Asian. 74% of Blacks/African Americans and 79% of Hispanic/Latinos said they are delaying their application because they want/need a higher TEAS score. 59% of whites and 63% of Asians gave this reason
    • Other key reasons for delaying include “need to complete prerequisites” (26%) or “issues with application timing” (15%).
      • Those “needing to complete prerequisites” are more likely to be White. 33% of whites gave this reason.
    • Only 5% of those delaying their application cite COVID concerns as a reason for the delay.
  • 14% of those who did not apply say they have changed their mind about a career in nursing.
    • 35% of those who changed their mind about nursing said it was because their TEAS score was too low. Among this group, few (7%) are considering retaking the TEAS.
    • 38% of those who changed their mind give other reasons – with many saying they are choosing a different career.
    • About one-fourth (23%) can’t afford nursing school right now
      • Those unable to afford nursing school are more likely to be non-White, non-Asian (32% vs 17%).
    • About one-fifth (19%) say nursing is less appealing as a career due to nurses’ working conditions during COVID.
      • Those saying nursing is less appealing due to nurses’ working conditions are more likely to be White/Asian (23% vs 13%)
    • 13% can’t fit nursing school into their life due to family/other responsibilities.
      • Those citing family/other responsibilities are more likely to be non-White and non-Asian (23% vs 6%)
    • Only 4% of those who changed their mind cite COVID concerns as a reason.

II.) 85% of those taking the TEAS exam applied to at least one nursing school within about five months of their exam date.

  • 74% of those taking the TEAS exam and applying to at least one nursing school were accepted into a nursing program.
    • Acceptance of White students (79%) is slightly higher than for other races/ethnicities – Black (68%), Latino (68%), Asian (68%) and other (71%).
    • Students who reported being accepted into a nursing program applied to an average of 1.6 schools.
      • 83% of those who applied to more than one nursing school and were accepted said they had been accepted by their top choice school.
  • 26% of those applying to a nursing school were NOT accepted into a nursing program.
    • 83% of those not accepted intend to reapply or apply to a different program.
      • 12% are undecided and only 5% do not intend to reapply
    • Among those who intend to reapply or apply to a different program, 53% are considering retaking the TEAS exam.
      • Among those not considering re-taking the TEAS exam, two-thirds (67%) are satisfied with their TEAS score.
      • Most people in this group are intending to reapply or apply to a different program.
    • Other reasons for not retaking the exam are fragmented
      • Changed my mind about career in nursing (6%)
      • School only allows certain number of re-takes (5%)
      • Don’t think I’d improve my TEAS score (4%)
      • Too much anxiety about re-taking (4%)
      • Cannot afford to re-take (3%)
      • Other (11%)



 

III) COVID-19’s Influence on Interest in Nursing

  • 39% of those who applied to a nursing school reported that COVID-19 made them more interested in a career in nursing.
    • This was particularly true among Blacks/African Americans (49%), Hispanics/Latinos (44%) and Asians (49%). Only 33% of white students said the same.
  • 8% of those who applied to a nursing school after taking the TEAS exam reported that COVID-19 made them less interested in a career in nursing.
    • Those who were not accepted to a nursing program were a little more likely (11%) than those who were accepted (7%) to say they were less interested due to COVID-19.