At a time it needs it most, Northeast Ohio is about to get an influx of some of the brightest new registered nurses in the country. For the third time since 2018, the most recent graduating class of the Kent State University at Ashtabula Associate Degree in Nursing program has earned a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), far surpassing the first quarter national average of 90%.
“The success of these registered nurses can be attributed to their hard work and perseverance as students in the Associate Degree in Nursing program at Kent State Ashtabula,” said Senior Director of Nursing and Allied Health Julie Senita, Ph.D., MSN, RN. “Achievement of 100% pass rate, which has been realized several times over the past few years, could not have been possible without the efforts of our dedicated nursing faculty who are experts in the field of nursing education. Their commitment to the nursing program and the success of the students cannot be overemphasized.”
The NCLEX-RN is the standard test used to qualify a registered nurse’s knowledge and ability in patient care upon graduation for accredited nursing programs. Every registered nurse is required to pass the rigorous exam in order to practice in the profession. The nationwide passage rate in the 2020 first quarter for first-time exam takers was 89.52%. Within the state of Ohio, the pass rate was 86.5%.
For over 50 years, Kent State Ashtabula has established a tradition of graduates with high NCLEX-RN scores and successful career placement. A majority of nursing students are hired to full-time positions either prior to graduation or shortly thereafter.
Most of the upcoming graduating class is already actively in the field to help meet the demand for skilled nurses and health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the passage of Ohio HB 197 this week, graduates of nursing programs are able to work under a temporary license as a nurse prior to taking the NCLEX-RN exam.
“HB 197 was initiated as an effort to improve the workforce sooner. We are confident that the upcoming graduates of our program are well-prepared to meet this challenge,” Senita said. “I am also confident that the students who have graduated from the program and are already registered nurses are well on their way to becoming leaders in the health care organizations in which they practice.”
The application for students interested in the nursing program for Fall 2020 is now available. To apply to the program, or to learn more about the Associate Degree in Nursing at Kent State Ashtabula, visit www.kent.edu/ashtabula/nursing.
###