Students in practical nursing programs require 32 weeks of coursework (1 academic year) and completion of a national licensing exam (NCLEX-PN) to secure employment. The purpose of this study was to identify selected academic variables that were related to NCLEX-PN performance for first-time test takers of two types of practical nursing programs at Milwaukee Area Technical College and to explore the academic and non-academic variables that were perceived to be important to graduate practical nurses. The following questions guided the study: 1) what are the academic variables related to passing or failing the NCLEX-PN for first-time test takers? 2) What are the academic and non-academic variables perceived to be important to nursing students during their program experience? The research approach employed in this study was a quantitative ex post facto design that incorporated record review and survey. In the first phase of the research, the records of practical nursing graduates (N = 152) were reviewed. A record was considered if it contained information about performance on the NCLEX-PN, final grades from Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) and the nursing capstone course (NRSPN306/NRSAD106) and the PN-HESI. In the second phase of the research, the responses from (N = 65) volunteer graduate practical nurses were collected through an electronic survey. Findings of the ex post facto record review suggested that PN-HESI is a strong academic indicator of students' passing or failing scores on the NCLEX-PN. Performance on the NCLEX-PN was predicted by final course grades in A&P (C+), and NRSPN-306/NRSAD-106 (B), PGPA and HESI. The non-academic variables perceived to be important were support from instructor, friends, significant other, family; readiness for theory, impact of mentoring and advising. This research has implications for practical nursing programs. Programs need to implement academic strategies to prepare students to pass the PN-HESI and subsequently pass NCLEX-PN. The personal characteristics of individual students impact their academic performance and underscore the need for the nursing programs to provide both academic and non-academic resources to support them. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]