Tennessee is Number One in the Nation

(Columbia, Tenn. – March 11, 2008) – - – Columbia State Community
College’s nursing grads posted an impressive 96% first attempt pass rate
on the 2007 National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses. Among Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) schools and associate
degree programs, Columbia State grads are 3rd in the state among
community colleges and 5th among all schools – including universities.

“Our nursing students come from all different walks of life,” said Dr.
Susan Seager, Columbia State’s nursing program director. “A typical
class may include grandparents and single parents, recent high school
graduates and students who may have been away from school for more than
20 years, people who seek nursing as a first career and those looking to
change professions. The nursing curriculum is extremely challenging and
demands a significant time investment by students. I’m truly proud of
the success of Columbia State nursing graduates.”

Columbia State’s nursing program prepares graduates for employment in a
variety of healthcare settings. Partnerships with healthcare facilities
throughout middle Tennessee offer students a well-rounded clinical
experience. Many graduates are employed by the agencies where they had
clinical rotations during school. Graduates have no difficulty
obtaining employment in both the local area and Nashville.

Columbia State also offers a Licensed Practical Nurse/Registered Nurse
(LPN/RN) mobility program in which LPN’s are prepared to write the
registered nurses licensure exam in either two or three semesters. Many
graduates of both the traditional and LPN tracks continue their
education by articulating into a bachelor’s program.

According to the most recent statistics published by the
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Tennessee has surpassed
long-time champion Oregon to achieve the highest pass rate in the nation
among those taking the licensure exam to become registered nurses.
Tennessee’s pass rate was 91.98%, well ahead of the second-place Oregon
with 89.3%. The national average pass rate was 85.47%.

A total of 2,682 Tennessee nursing graduates took the exam, and 2,467
successfully passed. Of those, over one-half (1,341) were graduates of
Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) schools. TBR graduates had an average
pass rate of 93.51%. Of the remaining nursing grads who took the exam,
212 were from the UT system, and the remainder from private
institutions.

“We owe credit and recognition to our faculty in nursing programs in
the TBR system for their extraordinary focus on quality and excellence
in the preparation of nursing professionals,” said TBR Vice Chancellor
Paula Short. “We appreciate their hard work and the leadership of the
TBR Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs/Schools.”

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in
southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin,
Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee’s first community
college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing
diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the
Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in
the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu
.