The South Plains College Board of Regents held a regular meeting Thursday where Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ryan Gibbs provided an update regarding the recent nursing test results.
Dr. Gibbs explained that the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is test that SPC nursing students take to become licensed by the State Board of nursing.
The passage rate for this past year is 96.84% which those results will be official January 30.
During the past year, the program standing was full approval with warning due to low percentages. In 2021 the percentage was 64% and the 2022 percentage was 50%.
Changes in regime and overall program helped bring the percentages up to 79.03% but the program received the full approval with warning standing. Dr. Gibbs and the nursing department heads feel that the program will be placed in full approval once the board meets in April.
Unlike the 2018, 2019 and 2020 years, the program has been able to bring more students into the classes and pass at a higher rate than before.
“We're putting more college qualified and competent nurses into the workforce and we're doing it on a year-to-year basis starting with these last couple of cycles,” said Dr. Gibbs. “There was a lot of work done and it was thanks to Doctor Tara Strong and her team.” Dr. Gibbs explained that Dr. Strong and her team put a lot of time effort energy into rebuilding the program.