Clarkson College Undergraduate Nursing Students Earn Highest Certification Exam Pass Rates in Nebraska

For the second time in four years, Clarkson College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Students achieved the highest pass rate in Nebraska for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The 96 percent pass rate accounts for the test period from October 2021 to September 2022 and is well above the national pass rate of 80 percent and the state pass rate of 86 percent.

“This achievement is a testament to the dedication of students in their success and to the faculty consistently trying new ideas and strategies to help them succeed,” said Director of Undergraduate Nursing Mary Dishman, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, of the high pass rates. “We require all graduating students to complete a virtual and live NCLEX review that is based on the needs of each specific cohort or graduating class.”

Dishman also believes the careful and constructive approach the College took to safely bring students back to campus in the fall of 2020, after more than a semester of learning remotely with the COVID-19 outbreak, was a key contributing factor to the high pass rates. Additionally, the diligence of clinical coordinators kept students in the acute care settings for hands-on learning at Nebraska Medicine throughout the pandemic.

The NCLEX is designed to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential for the safe and effective practice of entry-level nursing. All nurses who wish to practice in the United States must complete the NCLEX after graduating from an accredited nursing program. The pass rates are reported by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

A unique resource students in the Clarkson College BSN program utilize to help prepare for the NCLEX is the on-campus Interprofessional Learning Center. The breadth of medical technology the Center offers, including a state-of-the-art simulation lab, provides students with early-on training to foster greater growth, preparation, and educational success.

As a whole, the BSN program at Clarkson College offers students a foundation in the sciences and humanities while emphasizing critical thinking, care for diverse populations and leadership development. The program prides itself on its smaller-than-average class sizes and extensive clinical partnerships throughout Nebraska and beyond.

Learn more about the Clarkson College BSN program.