Nursing graduates
pass licensing exam in record numbers
By Melissa C. Rodriguez,
Public Affairs Representative - Posted 11/21/2008
Graduates of the
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at The
University of Texas-Pan American received a 96.72 percent
pass rate on the exam they are required to pass to become
registered nurses.
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UTPA nursing student Ruben Vela
practices his nursing skills with the SimMan, a
portable and advanced patient simulator which allows
students to practice realistic emergency treatment
of patients in the classroom. |
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Sixty-one students, the
majority of whom were December 2007
graduates, took the National Council
Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and received
one of the highest pass rates
in the state,
according to Dr. Carolina Huerta, chair of the UTPA nursing
department.
“I felt
quite elated and proud of our nursing program and faculty,”
Huerta said. “I believe that we have wonderful, committed
faculty, who have worked very hard to prepare our students
for success upon graduation.”
The UTPA
nursing graduates, with a pass rate of 96.72 percent,
performed above the state average of 90.68 percent and many
other nursing schools.
“We have
enjoyed high pass rates in the past, but this is the highest
pass rate in the past three to four years,” Huerta said.
The BSN
program admits about 110 students to the BSN program every
January.
Most of the
graduates remain in the Valley and work at health care
facilities in the area Huerta said.
“Additionally, the graduates are BSN prepared and can return
to school to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
degree,” she said.
For students
with bachelor’s degrees who are interested in continuing
their education, the MSN offers three areas of
specialization including, adult health nursing, family nurse
practitioner, and pediatric nurse practitioner.
The School of Allied Health Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 25, 2008.
The School of Health Professions at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston celebrated its 40th anniversary on November 15, 2008.
Appointments and Congratulations
J. David Holcomb, Ed.D., Professor of Allied Health Sciences and Family and Community Medicine was promoted to Senior Vice President and Dean of the
School of Allied Health Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Betty Protas, Ph.D., Ruby Decker Endowed Professor and Senior Fellow of the Sealy Center of Aging has been appointed as Dean of the School of Health Professions at
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Schools of Health Professions
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and The University of Texas Southwestern have changed their names to
School of Health Professions.
