The non-intellective student background variables purported to contribute to performance in the Nursing Aptitude Test (NAT) and to academic performance were determined to validate/negate claims that students from private schools and affluent backgrounds have better chances of passing the NAT.
Data were obtained from BSN students who were admitted in SY 2006-07 and SY 2007-08. T-test and ANOVA revealed no significant differences in the mean NAT scores of students grouped based on type of school origin (public vs. private), location of school origin (Zamboanga City vs. provincial), parent’s highest educational attainment and parent’s income. Multiple regression analysis identified parent’s highest educational attainment to significantly contribute to the NAT score of the SY 2006-07 group but not of the SY 2007-08 group. Moreover, the type of school origin, College Entrance Test and NAT were also found to significantly contribute to the academic performance of students.
The findings indicate that NAT performance is independent of socio-economic variables. It also supports the present criteria for admission into the BSN program which puts premium on the NAT score.