In the nursing literature, many variables have been used in research to identify students at risk, predict program success, and to indicate the best time to identify at-risk students and how to predict success on the Nursing Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In general, American College Testing Program (ACT) scores predicted success better for associate degree students than for baccalaureate students. Grade point average in clinical nursing courses and the Mosby Assess Test appeared to be good predictors of success on NCLEX-RN for baccalaureate students. No formal research was found using the Nelson-Denny reading exam as a predictor of baccalaureate nursing success. Other than the verbal scores of the Scholastic Aptitude Tests and the ACT, none of the research used reading comprehension ability or nursing vocabulary as variables in either identifying at-risk students or predicting NCLEX-RN success. Most studies agreed that pre-admission criteria are useful for admission decisions and upholding admission standards but should not be used to prevent at-risk students from having a chance of being admitted. There is a consensus that at-risk students should be identified early and given assistance, but the exact type of assistance and who the provider should be have not been determined. Very little information was found regarding specific strategies to improve the success of at-risk nursing students other than test-taking strategies, relaxation techniques, and NCLEX-RN review. (KM)