The Evidence Base
The Level Assessments battery is grounded in peer-reviewed research from nursing education, behavioral science, and psychometrics. The instruments have a 30-year track record of validated use and zero adverse impact.
The research below influenced the development of the platform and supports its core premise: that readiness attributes — including grit, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and planfulness — are meaningful predictors of persistence in pre-licensure nursing programs.
These resources document the science behind readiness-based admissions and the limits of academic proxies alone.
Creating a Culture of Success: A Framework for Addressing At-Risk Students
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This article presents a proactive framework for identifying and supporting at-risk nursing students, emphasizing the importance of early intervention strategies.
In this conversation with Dr. Eleonor Pusey-Reid, we discuss how admissions decisions serve as the antecedents of student risk - reinforcing the research on grit, resilience, and goal orientation.
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This article affirms that self-efficacy - the belief in one's ability to succeed - is one of the strongest predictors of academic and clinical performance. The article also suggests that self-efficacy can be measured and developed.
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This article emphasizes the value of emotional intelligence, resilience, and interpersonal traits often missed by GPA and TEAS scores. Supports Level Assessments' premise that the “art” of nursing matters just as much as academics.
Grit, Academic Resilience, and Mindset of Nursing Students: A Systematic Review
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A comprehensive review exploring how non-cognitive traits like grit and resilience influence nursing students' ability to overcome academic challenges.
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This article presents the development and psychometric evaluation of the Clinical Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), designed to measure nursing students' confidence in performing clinical skills.
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This descriptive literature review examines 50 years of research on student nurse attrition, identifying factors such as policy, academic preparation, and support systems that influence retention.
Nursing Students' Learning Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Grit During COVID-19
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This study examines the role of self-efficacy and grit in helping nursing students adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Investigates how positive psychological traits and mindset contribute to the development of grit in nursing students.
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Documents the predictive value of non-academic attributes in assessing student persistence — supporting the case for readiness-based admissions alongside academic metrics.
Advancing Health Professions Education: A Review of Holistic Admissions and Competency-Based Admissions Practices
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A systematic review of competency-based admissions practices in healthcare education and their role in improving student outcomes.
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Provides guidance on implementing admissions practices in nursing programs that go beyond academic metrics to improve student persistence and program outcomes.
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This qualitative study explores the reasons behind nursing students' decisions to leave their programs, highlighting factors like lack of support, mismatched expectations, and personal challenges.
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Examines the effectiveness of admissions practices that incorporate non-academic attributes in nursing education, including outcomes related to persistence and academic performance.