Practical nursing class has 100% pass rate on national licensure exam

Southeastern Community College’s Practical Nursing class of 2024 celebrated a milestone with all eight graduates passing their National Council Licensure Examination in February this year and securing employment. The year-long program started in January 2024 for the students with a rigorous three-semester journey to the SCC auditorium stage in December with a pin fastened to their uniform.  

“We are extremely proud of these hard-working students who faced adversity,” said Jessica Hill, Dean of Nursing and Healthcare Training. “With countless hours of studying and dedication to their clinicals and focused client care experience, they were prepared for the workforce. It all paid off for each of them.” 

Every practical nursing student’s focused client care experience was 120 hours of work, where the student was placed in a clinical setting under the mentorship of a registered nurse. Hill said these students learn the regular routine of being a nurse working a 12-hour shift. 

“We have implemented a really strong NCLEX study platform in our Practical Nursing III course that goes above and beyond the NCLEX prep resources we use throughout the program,” Hill said. “All students start preparing for the NCLEX as soon as they enter class on the first day.” 

Hill explained that the strong NCLEX study platform provides significant data points that help identify which students may not be as prepared to take the exam. The nursing faculty work individually with those students to provide extra help in exam preparation. 

“We’ve seen a lot of success with that platform, and I’m very happy with it,” Hill said. “The students have done really well with it.” 

Facing the everyday struggles of life, Hill explained the class of 2024 was a determined group of students. With some who are single moms, working and going to school at the time, Hill said this class rose to the challenge and succeeded. Describing the class as having grit and tenacity, Hill praised the class of 2024 for putting in the hours of work needed to become licensed practical nurses.  

“I sure cannot take credit for the success of these students at all,” Hill said. “These students are successful because of our nursing faculty, clinical instructors and the partnerships with our clinical facilities.  

Another contributing factor to the practical nursing 100% pass rate is the high-quality equipment and technology of the simulation lab on campus. The high-fidelity mannequins and ability to run stressful scenarios in a safe structured environment leaves room to remedy mistakes before entering an off-campus clinical setting.  

“Our faculty go above and beyond for our students with weekly tutoring sessions with the lead instructor,” Hill explained. “They’re not just excellent educators; they are good people who truly care about the students and want to see them succeed. We hold our students to a really high standard, and that is reflected in our graduates who are the best of the best.” 

The spring semester started with the fundamentals course, Practical Nursing I, taught by retired nursing faculty Deana Elkins and Myra Thompson. Detra Edwards taught the summer course, Practical Nursing II. Mirenda Prout taught the third course, Practical Nursing III. 

With all graduates listed on the Nurse Aide I registry, Hill said these students took the extra step of upskilling to become licensed practical nurses. She hopes to see all eight students return to SCC to earn their associates degree in nursing and become a registered nurse. 

Ready to establish your stepping into the ADN program as a licensed practical nurse? Contact Renee Long at [email protected] to secure your spot in the next class.