MARIETTA, OHIO—Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN) is once again among the top nursing programs in Ohio. Nursing advocacy organization RegisteredNursing.org, ranked the program fifth out of 96 registered nursing programs in the state of Ohio.
The fourth-annual analysis provides a state-by-state ranking of nursing programs. WSCO has consistently ranked among the top ten schools for nursing, placing fifth for the second year, seventh in 2018 and eighth in 2017.
The 2020 nursing school ranking conducted by the organization considers multiple program areas that affect student success, including first-time NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses) pass rates that lead to student licensure.
WSCO’s ADN program, approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, has a reputation for excellence in nursing education. The program’s current NCLEX-RN pass rate is 96.77%, which is more than 8% higher than the national average and more than 10% above the state average. Moreover, the college has consistently maintained above average pass rates. The college’s five-year average pass rate is 97.63%.
“We have a proud history of preparing our students to be amazing nurses, and that’s evident by our 100-percent job placement. Employers want our graduates because they leave here with excellent nursing skills,” said Dr. Heather Kincaid, dean of health & sciences. “This recognition is a testament to the nursing faculty’s commitment to our students’ success and their overall desire to make this program the very best.”
The college offers four enrollment options for students interested in a nursing career: the Practical Nursing program, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, the Advanced Placement ADN program and the Education Advancement to Registered Nurse (EARN) Pathway. The Practical Nursing program prepares students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The ADN program at WSCO follows a more traditional model for students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) while the Advanced Placement ADN program is designed for applicants who are already an LPN. The EARN Pathway is designed to provide a guided pathway to an ADN. The unique option gives accepted students one-on-one support with a dedicated faculty success coach as they complete general education requirements. It stands apart from other ADN programs by allowing pathway participants to complete general education and placement testing requirements while currently accepted as an ADN student. Once all prerequisites are successfully complete, pathway students seamlessly transition into Practical Nursing (PN) courses, followed by the ADN program without completing additional applications or waiting for acceptance.
For more information in the WSCO ADN program, contact Amanda Stilgenbauer at 740.885.5718 or at mailto:astilgenbauer@wscc.edu or visit https://www.wscc.edu/academics/health/associate-degree-nursing/.
