Tri-County Technical College’s RN and LPN graduates’ performance on state board exams exceed both state and national pass rates, according to a year-to-date report released by the SC Board of Nursing.

The College’s Associate Degree Nursing program reports a 90.91 percent pass rate for first-time candidates licensure exam takers between the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 20, 2015. Tri-County had 121 graduates who took the exam during that period and became licensed. According to reports, the state average is 89.27 percent and the national average is 84.51 percent.

Practical Nursing graduates scored a 92.54 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-PN exam, with the state average being 91.79 percent and the national average 81.89 percent.

The NCLEX exams for both Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs are computerized exams that test a graduate’s basic nursing knowledge and decision-making ability on commonly encountered health-care situations. Graduates of both programs must pass the exam to work as registered nurses and/or LPNs in the state.

Both Nursing Department Head Jackie Rutledge and Practical Nursing Program Coordinator Julie Vernon credit an engaged team of dedicated faculty, intense review sessions and practice testing as departmental strategies for students’ success.

Practical Nursing students take classes at the College’s Easley and Oconee campuses and Vernon credits the small campuses and one-on-one interaction with longstanding faculty members as contributors to students’ academic success.

“I’m proud of our high scores,” said Vernon. “Over the years, we’ve built a good track record with our NCLEX-PN scores. I’m proud of our faculty who have experience as both nurses and instructors.”

The ADN faculty’s decision to incorporate ATI Nursing Education assessment tools and standardized testing in all nursing classes to familiarize students with the NCLEX format and to enhance and fine tune their critical-thinking skills, said Rutledge. ATI Nursing Education is an assessment tool training program to prepare students to take the NCLEX exam.

“We have a good relationship with the facilities in the area. After students complete their clinicals in hospitals, many seniors are offered jobs there after graduation,” Rutledge said. “Others transfer to a four-year university to earn a BSN. At our last advisory committee meeting in December, we received nothing but positive comments feedback from members, including a faculty member from Clemson University who complimented our graduates on being well prepared when they enter Clemson.”

Tri-County’s nursing departments are fully accredited by the State Board of Nursing in South Carolina and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

This release provided by Tri-County Technical College.