Nursing Program & graduates shining; all 16 pass licensure exam

group of nursing students
Big Bend 2018 nursing program graduates pose for a photo before their official pinning ceremony on June 16. All 16 of the graduates passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam on their first attempt.

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Nursing program and its 16 recent graduates are all smiles this week after receiving news that the entire graduating class passed their NCLEX-RN licensure exam on their first attempts.

The program has personified success for the last 11 years and the 100-percent pass rate has become the norm for BBCC Nursing Students, a testament to the quality of instructors associated with the program. During this stretch, 100 percent of nursing graduates have passed the licensure exam on either the first or the second attempt.

“We are proud of the fantastic job our nursing instructors continue to perform in delivering excellence in teaching and learning,” said Big Bend President Terry Leas. “Our nursing students work hard, building on the information gained from our faculty in sciences, math, and other prerequisite courses, and achieve success at the highest standards. We especially are grateful for the support of healthcare professionals at area clinics, hospitals, and other providers to enrich our students’ learning with clinicals and other hands-on teaching-learning opportunities.”

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the national average of students who passed the exam in 2017 on their first attempt is 87.11 percent. Many of Big Bend’s most recent graduates are already at work in hospitals and clinics in the area.

“The NCLEX is the final hurdle before our graduates begin their professional career as Registered Nurses,” said BBCC Director of Health Education Programs Katherine Christian. “I am very proud of what they have accomplished, and look forward to watching them continue to develop their skills as they contribute to health care in our communities.”

The Associate Degree in Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

To learn more about Big Bend Community College’s nursing program, and the prerequisite requirements for admission into the program, visit our website HERE or email nursingprogram@bigbend.edu.