SCC Nursing Program Commended for Graduates' High Exam Pass Rate
Students who graduate from Southeast Community College's Associate Degree Nursing program are so well-prepared to take the national exam that they consistently score higher than the state and national rates.
Virginia Hess, chair of Southeast's ADN program, received a letter last month commending the program for its outstanding pass rate. The letter:
"The Education Committee of the Nebraska Board of Nursing met July 29, and the entire Board of Nursing met on Aug. 25.
"As a result of these two meetings, the committee members and the other board members noted for the past 10 years, the pass rates for graduates from SCC's associate degree program have consistently been above the pass rate for both the registered nurse national average and state average.
"For the year 2008, the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse pass rate nationally was 86.7 percent, and the state pass rate was 86.8 percent. SCC's pass rate was 95.6 percent. Two of the 10 years, SCC had a pass rate of 100 percent. Your pass rate is consistently higher than the other associate degree programs in the state and is comparable to the two baccalaureate programs that consistently have higher than national or state pass rates. It is also noted that SCC's program has an open enrollment policy, and that its last National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission site visit resulted in no recommendations or deficiencies.
"For this reason, the board has directed me to send a letter commending your program on these accomplishments."
The letter was signed by Dr. Sheila Exstrom, RN, Nursing Education Consultant, Nursing and Nursing Support, Public Health Division - Licensure Unit, Department of Health and Human Services in Lincoln.
"I am honored," Hess said. "It validates our program and all the hard work we've done."
Dr. Jack Huck, SCC president, offered special congratulations to the ADN program.
"Dr. Exstrom's statement about open enrollment is significant," Huck said. "Many schools around the country have a selection process. Therefore, pass rates are often higher. We don't do that."
Persons hoping to be certified as a Registered Nurse must first pass the NCLEX-RN test.
Hess said it was the first letter of commendation she's received since becoming program chair in 1995.
"I don't think they do those very often," Hess said.
Hess cited several reasons why program graduates have such a high pass rate.
"For one, we have a fairly stable faculty, and 100 percent are master's degree prepared," she said. "That helps. And we instituted a program several years ago where we have students practice the NCLEX (exam) format all the way through the program. I think that has helped. We also give retention exams that allow students to see, at the beginning of each course, what they have to remember and build on that knowledge each quarter."
SCC requires a minimum grade of C+ (75 percent) in each course in order to continue through the program, and program faculty strictly enforce attendance at the clinical sites.
"We also do a lot with assessment, not only the program assessment here, but we do a systematic evaluation plan," Hess said. "We use a lot of statistics where students take assessments in different subject areas. We use a lot of that information to go back and reinforce our curriculum. And we try to listen to our students to make the program better for them."
Hess said another plus for SCC's program was that it accepted part-time students.
"I don't know of any other program that does that," Hess said. "The majority of our students have families and jobs and all kinds of outside demands. It allows some people to go to school who couldn't afford to do it full-time."
Hess said about half of the students in the program were part-time.
Another plus for students, Hess said, was SCC's collaboration with BryanLGH College of Health Sciences to set up a simulation lab for health care students. The lab, which could open next spring or summer, will feature high-tech mannequins that can simulate a wide range of human experiences, including illness and childbirth.
"That will benefit all of our programs," Hess said.
Hess said the program accepted nearly double the number of licensed practical nurses this fall.
"We took 15 this fall where we used to take eight," she said. "And we've increased some of the offerings of our courses and made some hybrid courses, including some online. Students still have to come here for lab, clinical and testing."
Hess said all of the positive features of the ADN program would not be possible without support from the College.
"A lot of my peers' teaching loads are so heavy, they can't do it all," Hess said. "You have to have an institution that cares about quality."
For more information, contact:
Stu Osterthun
Administrative Director of Public Information and Marketing
(402) 323-3401
sosterthun@southeast.edu
Virginia Hess, chair of Southeast's ADN program, received a letter last month commending the program for its outstanding pass rate. The letter:
"The Education Committee of the Nebraska Board of Nursing met July 29, and the entire Board of Nursing met on Aug. 25.
"As a result of these two meetings, the committee members and the other board members noted for the past 10 years, the pass rates for graduates from SCC's associate degree program have consistently been above the pass rate for both the registered nurse national average and state average.
"For the year 2008, the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse pass rate nationally was 86.7 percent, and the state pass rate was 86.8 percent. SCC's pass rate was 95.6 percent. Two of the 10 years, SCC had a pass rate of 100 percent. Your pass rate is consistently higher than the other associate degree programs in the state and is comparable to the two baccalaureate programs that consistently have higher than national or state pass rates. It is also noted that SCC's program has an open enrollment policy, and that its last National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission site visit resulted in no recommendations or deficiencies.
"For this reason, the board has directed me to send a letter commending your program on these accomplishments."
The letter was signed by Dr. Sheila Exstrom, RN, Nursing Education Consultant, Nursing and Nursing Support, Public Health Division - Licensure Unit, Department of Health and Human Services in Lincoln.
"I am honored," Hess said. "It validates our program and all the hard work we've done."
Dr. Jack Huck, SCC president, offered special congratulations to the ADN program.
"Dr. Exstrom's statement about open enrollment is significant," Huck said. "Many schools around the country have a selection process. Therefore, pass rates are often higher. We don't do that."
Persons hoping to be certified as a Registered Nurse must first pass the NCLEX-RN test.
Hess said it was the first letter of commendation she's received since becoming program chair in 1995.
"I don't think they do those very often," Hess said.
Hess cited several reasons why program graduates have such a high pass rate.
"For one, we have a fairly stable faculty, and 100 percent are master's degree prepared," she said. "That helps. And we instituted a program several years ago where we have students practice the NCLEX (exam) format all the way through the program. I think that has helped. We also give retention exams that allow students to see, at the beginning of each course, what they have to remember and build on that knowledge each quarter."
SCC requires a minimum grade of C+ (75 percent) in each course in order to continue through the program, and program faculty strictly enforce attendance at the clinical sites.
"We also do a lot with assessment, not only the program assessment here, but we do a systematic evaluation plan," Hess said. "We use a lot of statistics where students take assessments in different subject areas. We use a lot of that information to go back and reinforce our curriculum. And we try to listen to our students to make the program better for them."
Hess said another plus for SCC's program was that it accepted part-time students.
"I don't know of any other program that does that," Hess said. "The majority of our students have families and jobs and all kinds of outside demands. It allows some people to go to school who couldn't afford to do it full-time."
Hess said about half of the students in the program were part-time.
Another plus for students, Hess said, was SCC's collaboration with BryanLGH College of Health Sciences to set up a simulation lab for health care students. The lab, which could open next spring or summer, will feature high-tech mannequins that can simulate a wide range of human experiences, including illness and childbirth.
"That will benefit all of our programs," Hess said.
Hess said the program accepted nearly double the number of licensed practical nurses this fall.
"We took 15 this fall where we used to take eight," she said. "And we've increased some of the offerings of our courses and made some hybrid courses, including some online. Students still have to come here for lab, clinical and testing."
Hess said all of the positive features of the ADN program would not be possible without support from the College.
"A lot of my peers' teaching loads are so heavy, they can't do it all," Hess said. "You have to have an institution that cares about quality."
For more information, contact:
Stu Osterthun
Administrative Director of Public Information and Marketing
(402) 323-3401
sosterthun@southeast.edu
