Recent graduates from Wilkes University’s Passan School of Nursing achieved a pass rate that exceeds the national and state averages on the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Wilkes bachelor of science in nursing graduates taking the test between Oct. 2017 and Sept. 2018 achieved a 95.12 percent pass rate.
This exceeds the national average of 88.56 percent and the Pennsylvania average of 92.84 percent. This also marks the highest pass rate of bachelor’s-degree granting nursing programs in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.
“This achievement is a testament to the faculty and staff in the Passan School of Nursing and the leadership of dean Deborah Zbegner,” said Anne Skleder, Wilkes provost and senior vice president. “Their dedication to our students is clearly illustrated in this latest success, reaffirming that Wilkes produces graduates who excel in their careers and make impactful changes in the health-care industry.”
The NCLEX-RN examination is a nationwide test designed to measure entry-level nursing competence utilized in both the U.S. and Canada as part of the licensing process. Recognized globally as preeminent nursing examinations, the exams are constantly and rigorously evaluated to keep pace with the rapidly evolving health-care environment.
“We offer a unique blend of student engagement, hands-on learning, faculty mentoring, and simulation technology that best prepares our students for their roles as future nurses. The result has been a steady climb in our NCLEX-RN pass rate and the continued success of our graduates,” said Deborah Zbegner, dean of the Passan School. “Wilkes is truly a premier school of nursing that provides comprehensive programming from the undergraduate through doctoral levels.”
The Passan School of Nursing offers the bachelor’s degree in nursing in both a traditional four-year format, as well as an accelerated format for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Wilkes offers online master’s degrees in adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric/mental heath nurse practitioner, as well as nurse executive, nursing education and nurse informatics. Wilkes also offers the doctor of nursing practice degree and in 2017, launched the region’s first Ph.D. in nursing. All graduate programs are conducted in an online format.
For more information about the nursing programs at Wilkes University, visit www.wilkes.edu/nursing.
