Monday, April 1- Sunday, April 7 | Keleher Learning Commons
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—According to statistics released by the Kansas State Board of Nursing, the University of Saint Mary scored 95.65 percent for NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate. The national first-time pass rate sits at just 91.57 percent—earning Saint Mary a distinct seat among top nursing programs in the state.
The NCLEX, or the National Council Licensure Examination, is a test determining if it is safe for individuals to begin practice as an entry-level nurse. The NCLEX-RN tests application and analysis of nursing knowledge an individual learned in school, while also challenging critical thinking skills and ability to make judgments.
"We are thrilled to hear this wonderful news, as it supports our program's commitment to student success," said Dr. Michelle Birdashaw, division chair of the nursing program. "Our faculty are dedicated to creating a critical-thinking environment here—from using our high-tech simulation lab to weaving in the latest research into their teaching, students graduate Saint Mary with a holistic, evidence-based, and applicable nursing education."
In the U.S., there are approximately three million nurses—making it the largest segment of the health care workforce; and the need for more registered nurses is only growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the total number of job openings for nurses (due to growth and replacement) at 1.09 million by 2024. Saint Mary is helping fill the void by launching and sustaining well-regarded programs addressing positions of critical need.
Over the past decade, Saint Mary has grown into an area force in health care education by developing well-regarded programs addressing positions of critical need—including the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the only Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner specialty track in the state of Kansas.
Saint Mary is also one of the few Kanas City-area schools offering direct entry into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for incoming freshmen. In this program, students are guaranteed a seat in USM's nursing class once they've completed their prerequisite coursework and meet key academic milestones. In most other colleges' programs, students are forced to re-apply to nursing after their sophomore year.
To learn more about any of USM's nationally accredited programs, visit stmary.edu/Nursing or contact Kat Aldrich, USM's pre-licensing coordinator, at katherine.aldrich@stmary.edu.
The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM's Overland Park Campus at 4500 College Boulevard offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit stmary.edu for more information.