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JCC nursing students shine on licensing exams

Jackson Community College nursing students have performed well above the norm on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for nurses for the fourth quarter of 2006, with 100 percent of 45 graduates passing on their first attempt. JCC’s licensed practical nursing program continues to produce outstanding results, as 100 percent of graduates have passed for the last two years’ graduating classes.

By comparison, the percentage of bachelor’s degree nursing graduates in Michigan was 87.96 percent in the fourth quarter 2006, and for associate degree nursing graduates the percentage was 83.04 percent. The national and state overall averages for the combined previous four quarters, that is all of 2006, were similar: 88.11 percent nationally and 88.80 percent in Michigan.

“This is the result of really hard work on the part of the students and the faculty,” said Kathy Walsh, director of nursing at JCC. “We were hopeful, we have gotten close several times, but this is the first time in the history of JCC that 100 percent have passed.”

Nursing today is a demanding field, and the tests continue to be more difficult, Walsh said. Faculty continues to evaluate and refine their teaching and assisting methods to help students be successful. “We’re constantly trying to improve what we do. Nursing is such a rigorous program, it’s very challenging.

“A lot of credit goes to the faculty for working so hard, and a lot of credit goes to the students, they put forth an incredible amount of effort because they realize the stakes. The practice environment is demanding, and they need to know a lot, so they put forth the effort in preparing for exams.”

Jennifer Soltis graduated this spring and recently passed her NCLEX-RN. She had been a stay-at-home mom for 14 years before returning to college to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. “The faculty was very supportive and very knowledgeable, they will work with you,” she said. “I think the test results reflects greatly on our education. If there are others out there thinking about nursing or going back to college, I would say do it, JCC will work with you.”

Janean Bignell also graduated this spring with her RN. “I always knew I would go to nursing school,” Bignell, who had been a certified medical assistant for 20 years, said. “I loved the small, intimate classes JCC offered, and the fact that at the age of 45 I wasn’t the oldest student. I thoroughly enjoyed getting my education. I am thrilled to hear that my whole class passed NCLEX on the first try! What a testament to our dedicated instructors at JCC.”

Jackson Community College offers four paths to a career in nursing: a practical nurse certificate program that may be completed in one year that prepares graduates to function as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) after passing the state board, NCLEX-PN; the Associate in Applied Science degree in nursing program prepares the graduate to function as a registered nursing after passing the state board, NCLEX-RN; the LPN to ADN program is designed for the licensed practical nursing who wants to become a registered nurse, and graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in nursing and work as RN’s after passing the NCLEX-RN; and a transfer program with the University of Michigan that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.