Highland Community College Technical Center's Practical Nursing Program Achieves 100% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate for Second Consecutive Year
For the second year in a row, Highland Community College Technical Center's Practical Nursing... Read More
Highland Community College Technical Center's Practical Nursing Program Achieves 100% NCLEX-PN Pass Rate for Second Consecutive Year
published July 30, 2024For the second year in a row, Highland Community College Technical Center's Practical Nursing students have achieved a remarkable 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-PN assessment for licensure as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).
As of December 2023, the national pass rate for first-time test takers on the NCLEX-PN, as reported by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is just over 86%. This makes HCCTC's achievement even more impressive and a testament to the quality of their nursing program.
Anna Fowler, HCCTC Director of Nursing, commented, “This is the second class to take the NCLEX-PN with the NextGen (NGN) style of questions. The NGN was developed in response to research indicating that nearly one-fourth of medical errors involve newly licensed nurses in their first year of practice. The NGN-style questions are designed to assess clinical judgment and critical thinking skills, which are essential for safe and effective nursing practice.”
In the United States, aspiring nurses must pass the NCLEX examination to become licensed. The NCLEX-PN is designed for those who have earned a certificate in practical nursing, while the NCLEX-RN is for those with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. Both exams evaluate nursing knowledge and the ability to make sound clinical decisions, manage complex processes and handle challenging situations that nurses will encounter in their careers.
The demand for practical nurses is on the rise. According to O-Net Online, employment opportunities for LPNs are projected to grow by 6% between 2020 and 2030. Similarly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the registered nursing workforce will increase by 6% over the next decade, growing from 3.1 million in 2021 to 3.3 million in 2031. This growth includes an anticipated 203,200 job openings for RNs each year through 2031, driven by retirements and other workforce exits.
To learn more about HCCTC’s practical nursing program in Atchison, visit highlandcc.edu/LPN.
