The Department of Nursing and Health Sciences has recorded an above 95 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for first time testers over the past two years.

In the spring of 2011, the department was put on “conditional” status because the pass rate was below the state requirement of 80 percent three years in a row. The status restricted the department from admitting new nursing school students. Department Head Dr. Helen Reyes said that they have increased the minimum GPA requirement for admission from 2.5 to 2.8. The department was allowed to start admission again in the fall of 2011.

“[The increase of minimum GPA] has helped, but each student has their own factors,” Reyes said. “We’ve also started offering free test anxiety relief to all of our students. When it comes to taking the exam, it is very stressful because everything [the students] have done over the past four or five years relies on one test.”

Instructor Carole Brown said the students have really bought in to the program and are very committed to and proud of their work.

“They work really hard and it’s very rewarding to see the good results after all the effort they put in,” Brown said.

Clinical Simulation Coordinator Lisa Robinson said they are engaging the students in as many real scenarios as possible, including a simulation lab that houses interactive mannequins.

“We simulate everything from broken bones to even death,” Robinson said. “The mannequins even react and respond verbally to treatment.”