PV Nursing Program Boasts High Pass-Rate on Board Exams

by Rhonda Martin

As the leading provider of professional nurses to the 26 hospitals in the Kansas City metropolitan area, MCC-Penn Valley’s professional nursing program has thrived on its reputation: success for its graduates. 

One of the key elements used to measure the success of an educational program is the NCLEX-RN pass rate.  Penn Valley historically has done very well on the licensing exam.  Of the 66 students who graduated in May 2010 only one has not been successful on the exam, according to Pat Winberg, Retention Coordinator for the nursing program. The school has boasted a 92.8 percent pass rate for the calendar year, she said.  

What factors lead to success or failure on the boards exam? Angela Fulkerson, R.N. and May 2010 graduate of the MCC-PV program, credits the faculty for helping her feel well-prepared throughout the two-year program, as well as the many hours of computer-based test questions, with her passing of the boards exam.  Rachel Hodges, R.N. and May 2010 graduate, said that she believes the Kaplan test preparation program – a week-long private program taught by master’s-prepared nurse educators – has instrumental in her success with the NCLEX-RN exam. (The Kaplan program charges about $500.) Both recent graduates said they felt they received a strong education at MCC-PV and would recommend the program to a friend.  

In addition to education and study, “personal issues, such as divorce, moving, problems on the job, issues with children, around the time that the person takes boards, do impact ability to pass,” Winberg said.  Some students “have difficulty with prioritization of patients and delegation of tasks.  Orthopedics is also problematic in regard to working with traction, crutch walking and assistive devices.  Pharm [pharmacology] also seems to be a general area of difficulty no matter how extensive the course in the nursing program,” Winberg said. 

Are points on paper what make a good nurse? Providing healthcare requires a personal touch. Hodges suggested instituting an interview as part of the application process to identify those candidate who possess the personal traits most likely to make them successful in the healthcare setting.  The admissions process is very competitive, Hodges said, everything possible must be done to ensure that the best candidates become the future of our healthcare system.