Learning
Muskingum University Nursing Program Graduates Achieve 100% Pass Rate on NCLEX Exam on the First Attempt for the Fifth Straight Year
Graduates from the #1 Rated Nursing Program in Ohio Report 100% Employment Rate During this Time
Muskingum University today announced all graduates from the 2020 class of its acclaimed nursing program passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, only 8 programs out of nearly 120 in Ohio had a perfect pass rate on the first attempt.
Muskingum University’s nursing program, which was recently named the #1 program in Ohio, combines the best of the institution’s liberal arts and sciences with a structured nursing curriculum to build a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) experience. This experience, which includes a focus on interactive learning, prepares students for both the NCLEX exam and their professional careers, according to Dr. Cynthia Wilkins, director and chair of nursing programs at Muskingum University.
“Our program is designed to develop the critical thinking and communication skills students need to navigate the sometimes unpredictable and fast-paced nursing profession,” said Dr. Wilkins. “We focus on interactive learning in the classroom coupled with simulated, hands-on learning in the lab, along with clinical experience, to instill the cognitive knowledge and assessment skills needed for professional success in our field.”
To prepare students for the NCLEX exam, program faculty members begin working with sophomore students as early as the fall semester. Dr. Wilkins said by the time students reach the NCLEX exam, they have already answered approximately 10,000 test questions throughout their time in Muskingum University’s nursing program, providing a solid knowledge base for the exam. Nursing faculty also invite area employers on campus to conduct mock interviews to prepare students for their careers and develop a rapport with hiring managers.
Muskingum’s nursing program is comprised of five, full-time faculty members, each of whom continues to practice in the nursing profession. By remaining active in the field, program instructors understand current practices and methodologies, which is a proven benefit to students.
“Our experienced faculty, and our students, are unbelievably driven and dedicated to excellence which is evident through the remarkable NCLEX test results and graduate employment rate over the last five years,” said Dr. Wilkins. “Even with the substantial disruption presented by COVID-19 and remote learning, the graduating class of 2020 excelled inside, and ultimately outside, of the classroom which is a testament to each of them and Muskingum University’s entire nursing program.”
In 2016, the University’s nursing program received a 10-year accreditation – the most that a program can be awarded – by meeting all four standards from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Nursing programs become CCNE-accredited as a mark of excellence in nursing education.
Muskingum offers three nursing programs – the bachelor’s degree program for traditional prelicensure students and an adult; online RN to BSN program for established nurses wishing to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing; and the accelerated (BSN) that is launching in the fall of 2020.
