The spring nursing Class of 2016 has something big to cheer about—100 percent of the students have passed their national licensing exams on the first try. This is a huge achievement and very well deserved of the class that has shown a strong work ethic and perseverance.
The licensing exams are conducted by Pearson Vue and administered in testing centers around the country. Students in this particular program have tested at locations in Wichita, Topeka, Fort Hays, and even Oklahoma City. The wide range of testing facilities provides flexibility for the hundreds of students taking the exams each year.
The average pass rate at first attempt is about 90 percent with the remaining test-takers passing on the second attempt. The National Council Licensing Examination-Registered Nurse is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and represents an accumulative account of the entire program’s education.
Director of Nursing Teresa Vetter, M.S.N. said that because the test is accumulative “we work with the students to discuss if they are ready, if there is anything they need to go back and review.” She added, “The last semester is about helping to identify areas that need refreshed and reviewed.” Program faculty believe strongly in preparing their students both intellectually and emotionally.
Adding to their already impressive accomplishment, each of the 21 students have already accepted positions at various health care facilities. Via Christi will employ the majority of the graduates while others will move on to careers ranging from the rural health care system to critical access hospitals.
“One of the goals of the program is to provide nurses to the community who have a strong entry-level knowledge but also have a more liberal arts education,” said Vetter. “This prepares them not to just perform nursing tasks, but also to have the critical thinking skills that allow them to think, process and problem-solve quickly.”
Graduates of the Newman nursing program can expect to find work quickly, if not immediately. The average rate of employment directly after graduating and passing the exams is 50 percent to 70 percent, and usually 100 percent of graduates have found employment within three months of receiving their degrees.
Vetter said, “The thing about this class was, this is a class that every single individual in the class worked hard, were focused on being successful, and did whatever it took. Because of that, they were a very high performing class.” She added, “They were a class that was fun to work with because they were so motivated to do well.”
Having a 100 percent pass rate is just one piece of what the university strives for. Having a top-notch faculty lineup is important as well. “From a faculty perspective, it indicates a certain quality there, a high level of work put in for the students,” said Vetter.
The hard work and preparation that the faculty and students put in have certainly paid off. The graduates are proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement.
To learn more about the Newman University nursing program, click here.
