Last year, NCCU’s Department of Nursing earned the highest passing rate on the state nursing exam of all the schools in the UNC system.

Thirty out of 32 students passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses in 2000.

This means that the Department of Nursing had 94 percent of their students pass the NCLEX-RN. This percentage beats UNC Chapel Hill, who had 93 percent, and East Carolina University, which had a passing rate of 9 1 percent.

The Department of Nursing must meet the minimum requirements of the state Board of Nursing as well as the UNC system. The state requires 75 percent of the department’s students to pass the test.

In 1990,The UNC board of governors stated that if passing rates of a nursing program within the UNC system falls below 85 percent for two consecutive years, the department must undergo a review. If those rates fall below 75 percent for two consecutive years, the president of the UNC system may shut it down.

In 1998, 80 percent passed the NCLEX, while 66 percent passed in 1999.

These low percentages put the Department of Nursing under review by the state. Betty Dennis, chairperson of the department, realized that things had to change.

“We feel that the process of the faculty and students working together was much improved. We provided more opportunity for the students to assess themselves and more opportunity to use their own learning styles,” Dennis said.

If a student fails the test, he or she must take it again to become a R.N. Taking the test once is stressful enough. The department tries its best to avoid having its students going through all the trouble. The preparation methods for the test were improved.

Diagnostic tests were used to help seniors individually. Students worked in smaller groups with the faculty and paid numerous visits per month to their advisors.

Certain computer programs were also used.

“We have to answer 3000 to 5000 questions on the computer before the end of the year,” said senior Akimyo Champion, who will take her exam in a few months.

The Department of Nursing has received recognition for its achievement with the public and alumni. Radio stations and television stations have called, and articles have appeared in a couple of other newspapers like the Carolina Times.

Department of Nursing alumni are excited about this success and are supporting the department. A group sent a congratulatory note and a plant to show their enthusiasm.

Not content to dwell on past achievement, Dennis said the department is getting ready for the future.

“We focus on the current seniors and ensure that they are as prepared, if not more, for the NCLEX,” said Dennis.

This year, the department is paying for seniors to attend a four-day program to help further prepare them. It will cost about $200 per participant.

In other more routine ways, the department demonstrates support and optimism for its students. The walls of the department are decorated with flyers advertising online preparatory courses.