LANCASTER, Pa., Jan. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, the area's preeminent institution for the health care field, today announced a 98.02 percent pass rate for first-time test takers of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for 2017-18, surpassing both the national average of 89.41 percent and state average of 92.84 percent.
The 98.02 percent pass rate on the national professional licensure exam for nurses marks the fourth consecutive year-over-year increase in pass percentage by Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences students.
"This exceptional first-time pass rate is a direct reflection of the collaborative work of our faculty and staff to provide an unparalleled experience for our students, true to our roots of excellence in nursing," said Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Dean of Nursing Dr. Cheryl Grab. "To continue to see year-over-year improvement validates the extensive efforts we've put in as a College and demonstrates the effectiveness of our programs in preparing students for their careers."
The scores come on the heels of a concerted four-year effort by Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences to evaluate and innovate its curriculum for continued betterment of students. Some of the initiatives undertaken by the College to advance that effort include decreasing class sizes, enhancing simulated learning experiences, incorporating Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) learning systems into the curriculum, improving the faculty hiring and orientation process, identifying high-risk students early to provide them with additional assistance and increasing the admissions GPA from 2.5 to a required 3.0.
"We recognize that the nursing field is continually growing and evolving, and we want to ensure we are preparing our students to become leaders in the field upon entering the workforce," said Dr. Kimberly Johnston, Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. "The U.S. Department of Labor projects jobs for registered nurses to grow at 15 percent over the next eight years, and we will support that growth with the most qualified and well-prepared nurses in the region."
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is the only institution in the region that offers an accelerated three-year Bachelor of Science Nursing program. The College's rigorous curriculum prepares students for a myriad of health care settings, immersing them in a unique theoretical learning environment where collaboration between disciplines mimics that of a hospital and fosters a holistic understanding of how each professional and department works with one another.
To learn more about Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, visit: pacollege.edu.
About Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
A dynamic and academically rigorous institution, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is a private, accredited, four-year college focusing exclusively on the field of health care. Offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, as well as a number of certificate programs, PA College provides professional development for health care workers throughout their career. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the College attracts a select group of more than 1,800 students to study with faculty who are experts in their specialty areas.
SOURCE Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
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