Exploring AI to Support Nursing Students’ NCLEX Success
- University of Detroit Mercy nursing students are testing how AI can enhance NCLEX exam coaching.
- The pilot program compares AI-led, instructor-led, and hybrid coaching sessions.
- Focused on reducing stress, boosting accountability, and supporting flexible study plans.
- Early findings will inform how AI can complement human coaching in healthcare education.
Intro & Purpose
Preparing for the NCLEX—the national licensure exam for nurses—can be overwhelming. Students juggle intense study schedules, clinical responsibilities, and the pressures of transitioning into professional practice. The McAuley School of Nursing is piloting a program to see if AI can provide individualized support while maintaining the personal touch of human coaching. This work matters because it explores innovative ways to help students succeed and reduces the burden on faculty, aligning with CAI’s mission to integrate practical AI solutions in education.
What is the project?
Students in the pilot program voluntarily join one of three cohorts:
- Instructor-led coaching: Two personalized sessions with faculty.
- AI-led coaching: Two sessions guided by an AI coaching system.
- Hybrid coaching: One session with faculty and one AI-led session.
The program focuses on practical NCLEX preparation, offering flexible study plans, accountability, and reflection on challenges. AI is used as an applied tool to support students’ learning experiences, complementing human guidance rather than replacing it. Faculty and students collaborate closely to ensure each coaching session addresses real needs and fosters community support.
Some early Insights
Initial observations show that students appreciate the flexibility of AI-led sessions while valuing the personalized feedback from faculty. One early “aha” moment was discovering that AI can provide targeted suggestions quickly, helping students identify weak areas and manage stress more effectively. Challenges include balancing the technology with the human touch, ensuring AI supplements rather than replaces faculty guidance. Students report feeling more confident in their preparation and supported by a combination of community and technology.
Why This Matters & Next Steps
This pilot study is more than a single experiment—it’s a step toward integrating AI meaningfully into healthcare education. By exploring how AI can enhance human coaching, the project supports CAI’s mission to advance practical, people-centered AI applications. Next steps include analyzing survey results, refining AI tools based on student feedback, and potentially expanding the program to support more nursing cohorts. The goal is a sustainable model that improves student outcomes while preserving the mentorship essential to nursing education.
Project Team
Sara F. Gifford, DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC – Project lead, McAuley School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy
Collaborators include faculty coaches and participating nursing students.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact the CAI Communications Team via the Contact Page.
