March 14, 2011
03/15/11 Over 80 percent of Ancilla College nursing students are passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first try, according to statistics released today by the College.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), Ancilla’s pass rate eclipsed the national rate of 76 percent amongst all prospective nurses seeking NCLEX-RN licensure.
All Boards of Nursing in states and territories of the United States require candidates to pass the NCLEX-RN in order to become a licensed registered nurse.
“Our nursing program gives students an opportunity to study nursing when they may not have had the opportunity to do so at other institutions, keeping with the mission of the College and the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ of serving the underserved,” said Ann Fitzgerald, Chair of the Division of Nursing and Health Science at Ancilla College.
“Having said that, we are pleased to sustain a pass rate comparable to nursing schools with extremely rigorous admission guidelines. Our students are actively serving as registered nurses within the community and various locations throughout the country.”
Fitzgerald warned that nursing is a challenging area of study and isn’t for everyone.
“The Ancilla College nursing program is not easy, nor should any nursing program be considered easy,” said Fitzgerald. “Students must multi-task and use clinical reasoning while caring for the patient and their family; and must do so without making a mistake. Hence the difficulty and great responsibility in not only being a nurse, but teaching safe, effective, nursing care to fledgling students.
“Each of our nursing instructors is either Master’s prepared or working towards their Master’s degree and all Master’s prepared instructors are certified specialists in their area of expertise. In addition, four of the seven nursing instructors are certified nurse educators and specialize in teaching nursing as well.
“Our nursing program does an excellent job of teaching and we’re very proud of our students. However, not all will make it through the program. Not just anyone can be a nurse. For those willing to work hard and study hard, Ancilla College will help them to the best of our ability.”
Ancilla College is a Catholic, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college in Donaldson, Indiana sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.