PREPARE: Enhancing Pre-Matriculation Readiness in Prelicensure Nursing Students

BACKGROUND: Incoming prelicensure nursing students often enter nursing programs with varying levels of academic preparedness, which can affect early academic success. PREPARE (Prelicensure Readiness Education Program for Aspiring Registered NursEs) was developed to strengthen foundational knowledge before students begin nursing coursework. METHOD: Using a quality improvement framework, PREPARE provided a six-week pre-matriculation program that incorporated pre- and post-assessment, online learning modules, faculty-led instruction, and an in-person workshop. Outcomes included Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) performance, student confidence, and program satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean TEAS scores increased by more than eight percentage points, with a greater proportion of participants achieving Advanced and Exemplary proficiency. Although confidence in prerequisite knowledge declined slightly, findings suggest improved awareness of learning needs. Students also reported high satisfaction with the program. CONCLUSION: PREPARE provides a proactive, adaptable framework for enhancing academic readiness and promoting early academic success in prelicensure nursing education.