Nov 29, 2009 By Herald Standard Staff 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – For the second consecutive year, the Waynesburg University nursing program achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The exam pass rate takes into account graduates who tested Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30. Students take the NCLEX subsequent to graduation from a baccalaureate, diploma or associate degree program. A student must pass the exam in order to become licensed to practice as a registered nurse. This year, 133,645 candidates tested in the United States and achieved an average national pass rate of 88 percent. Pennsylvania had the fourth largest number of candidates, with 7,257 testing from 84 programs with an average pass rate of 88 percent. Thirty-one Waynesburg University students collectively achieved the 100-percent pass rate.

“The faculty promotes a culture of excellence and the curriculum is rigorous,” said Dr. Nancy Mosser, chairwoman of the department of nursing and professor of nursing at Waynesburg University. “Students learn to conduct themselves as professionals and to provide quality nursing care from the time they are admitted as sophomores.”

Mosser credits clinical experiences during a student’s first semester of being admitted, continuous advising beginning from a student’s freshman year, experienced full- and part-time faculty and standardized testing for the achievement.

To prepare for the exam, students took numerous standardized tests known as assessment technologies institute (ATI) tests while in the nursing program to validate knowledge of specific nursing content. In addition to the ATI tests, students are required to pass nine standardized exams before they graduate.

“The testing helps students to become comfortable with the testing process and requires them to demonstrate mastery of essential knowledge,” Mosser said.

Tina Antill, assistant professor of nursing at Waynesburg University, said the achievement is the result of commitment from Waynesburg University faculty and the nursing students.

“We are committed to educating effective nurses that contribute to safe quality patient care. In turn, our students are highly-commited to their own education and they set personal goals to achieve the 100-percent pass rate,” she said. “The health care system is so complex and students have to learn how to think critically and apply the knowledge they have learned.”

Ava Clements, a non-traditional senior nursing student from Washington, will graduate in December. Clements is a second degree student who, along with a majority of her classmates, has already been offered a job.

“This program is truly incredible,” she said. “I just love it. Our professors are brilliant, top-notch individuals who truly care about you. They really do anything they can to help us develop the skills that we need to be successful in the nursing field.”

Clements noted the program’s second consecutive year of the 100-percent pass rate as just one of its unique elements.

“We have been compared to other excellent nursing programs, but how many can say that they have experienced the 100-percent pass rate for two consecutive years,” she said. “We are exposed to a variety of hospitals and clinical settings and our clinical instructors and nursing professors are some of the best in their fields, the ‘cream of the crop.’ I am really inspired by these individuals.”

According to Mosser, the addition of the new, state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab will provide students with additional opportunities to enhance their knowledge base and critical thinking skills. “Students can simulate complex situations with sophisticated simulators in the lab before they encounter patients,” she said.

improving confidence and proficiency levels before entering actual health care institutions,” she said.