This is awesome. Also note, the new NCLEX standards take affect in April..... Mennonite sees 100 percent pass rate

On their first try in 2009, graduates of the Mennonite College of Nursing achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the national nursing licensure examination [NCLEX-RN], scoring higher than the national and state averages.

Nationally the NCLEX-RN had a pass percentage of 88 while the state of Illinois was 91 percent, both exceeded by the ISU pass percentage.

The high passing percentage, achieved during the graduates’ first try, is highly attributed to the Nursing Department’s Success Plan.

The Success Plan focuses on critical thinking, integration of theory with clinical practice and mastery in each course before progressing to the next. The mastery exams cover the material students see on the NCLEX-RN exam.

The Success Plan is led by Catherine B. Kaesberg, instructional assistant professor and plan coordinator.

Though 100 percent is the highest anyone can achieve, Kaesberg believes the School of Nursing can continue to get better with the exam.

“The 100 percent pass rate is great, but the passing standard for the test was increased in December and goes into effect April 1 of 2010. The challenge will be to maintain consistent with high pass rates in the face of a more difficult test,” Kaesberg said.

The increased standards are part of a three-year evaluation cycle to ensure that the NCLEX-RN continues to keep up with current nursing standards.

“In response to the change, I have been holding two NCLEX-RN readiness review sessions per week for the graduating seniors. They are not mandatory but have been extremely well-attended. The students are very aware of the increased passing standard and want to address it early in their exam preparation process,” Kaesberg said.

Brenda Jeffers, associate dean and professor in the School of Nursing, believes this achievement can greatly help the nursing program.

“For one thing it speaks highly of our outstanding students that graduate from our program, as well as the high quality of our program and professors. And hopefully this will do a lot to attract many more students from across the state of Illinois,” Jeffers said.

The NCLEX-RN exam is a computer-adapted assessment that evaluates safe and effective health care delivery in eight client need categories: physiology integrity, reduction of risk potential, health promotion and maintenance, management of care, safety and infection control, basic comfort and care, psychosocial integrity and pharmacological and parenteral therapies.

Students must demonstrate analysis and application levels of competency in all eight areas in order to pass the exam, according to Kaesberg.

“Achieving a high pass rate is, and has always been, a goal for the Mennonite College. The students have experienced success because they and the faculty are talented and work hard,” Kaesberg said.