MARIETTA, Ohio (Jan. 10, 2018) – The Practical Nursing program at Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is among an elite group of nursing schools in Ohio that boasts a 100 percent pass rate on the national licensing exam for practical nurses.
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing, WSCO is one of only 13 Licensed Practical Nursing schools in the state that has a 100 percent pass rate for 2017 on the NCLEX-PN, The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses. The statistic is based on first-time candidates who took the exam within six months of completion of the program across the 68 nursing schools in Ohio.
Further compounding this success, WSCO’s Practical Nursing program also has a 100 percent job placement rate for students upon graduation and licensure.
“The practical nursing program at WSCO is a very hands-on program,” said Alicia Warren, MSN, RN, director and associate professor of PN education. “My faculty and I put the students at the center of the education pathway and work closely with them on an individual basis to help them succeed. Our program focuses not only on the essential entry-level skills needed to be a licensed practical nurse, but also the professionalism that will make them an excellent caregiver and employee for the health care agency that they choose to work with.”
WSCO is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Warren notes that in order to keep that full approval status and to issue program completion letters to the board for graduates, the program must maintain a pass rate on the licensure examination that is at least 95 percent of the national average for first-time candidates who took the exam within six months of completion of the program.
As of Sept. 30, 2017:
The WSCO Practical Nurse pass rate is 100 percent
The Ohio Practical Nurse pass rate is 83.49 percent
The National Practical Nurse pass rate is 85.5 percent
According to the Ohio Board of Nursing, only 13 of 68 Licensed Practical Nursing schools in the state of Ohio have a 100 percent pass rate
“I emphasize to my faculty that we must maintain high standards with evidence-based practice as we educate these entry-level nursing students,” said Warren. “I also tell the students that this will be a stepping stone for many of them in the nursing world; they need to take the responsibility to learn from the instructors so that they can apply these necessary skills to care for our community members that are in need of nursing care.”
WSCO offers a hands-on preceptorship for nursing students where they work directly with a practical nurse in the community during their last semester of the program. This facilitates the student’s transition into the actual healthcare environment. Often, once the staff has seen their performance, many students are offered jobs at the facility in which they had a preceptorship.
“Our faculty works very closely with our students to build a learning relationship, we support them in any way that we can, while still maintaining the high standards that are necessary to become a nurse,” said Warren. “Our faculty are clinically experienced registered nurses that have a passion for not only nursing but teaching as well. Seeing our students succeed makes us very proud!”
Recent program graduate Ashley Nedeff echoed Warren’s sentiment on the program’s faculty. “We had excellent instructors who took the time to make us feel confident in the skills we were taught. I highly recommend WSCO all of the time.”
Successful completion of the NCLEX-PN licensure exam allows nurses to practice in the state where he or she attended school and enables them to apply for reciprocity to other states for a fee without retesting. In addition, the exam is an indicator that the graduates are proficient in the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for safe and effective entry-level nursing practice.
Graduates of the PN program at WSCO have the option to continue their education and pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at WSCO or other colleges. They can also go directly to work in doctor’s offices, extended care facilities, hospitals, department of rehabilitation and corrections, home health and others.
The WSCO Practical Nursing (PN) program June 2018 cohort is now forming with a rolling application deadline. The program is also looking to reinstate its 2-year part-time evening PN program beginning fall semester 2018. It is designed for the working person who wants to obtain a nursing certificate at a slower pace. WSCO needs 12 fully accepted applicants to launch this evening program. Contact Alicia Warren at awarren@wscc.edu for more information or visit http://www.wscc.edu/academics/health/practical-nursing/.
For more than 45 years, Washington State College of Ohio has provided residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley the opportunity to realize dreams, to enhance skills, and to broaden understanding. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult student looking to move your life in a new direction, Washington State has the classes to suit your needs. For more information about Washington State College of Ohio, visit www.wscc.edu or call 740.374.8716.
