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CHARLOTTE AMALIE — By graduation date, May 2017, 100 percent of the School of Nursing (SON) Class of 2017 at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) was eligible to sit the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Of the 12 graduate students that took the examination, 11 of them were successful. This marked a 92 percent pass rate.
“This is a major accomplishment,” said, Dr. Beverly Lansiquot, dean of the School of Nursing (SON). “As an alumna of the School of Nursing myself, I am happy to know that the school is once again producing outcomes that it is historically known for and I hope that it continues on this trajectory,” she said.
In previous years the pass rates were not meeting the expectations of the school, according to Dr. Lansiquot. “The results we have seen over the years have been mediocre and in 2014 the outcome for the program was a 25 percent pass rate,” she said.
“Since then the School of Nursing took some serious revisions to the curriculum, admission and promotion policies,” Dr. Lansiquot said. “We increased the academic rigor of the program and strengthened our use of standardized testing.” She further added, “New courses were introduced in Fall 2016 to include a NCLEX-RN Preparatory Course and a Senior Clinical Practicum.” The graduating Class of 2017 were the first to complete these courses.
“The newly implemented curriculum and the preceptorship program (Senior clinical practicum) were very beneficial to my success,” said Shahara-Ann Donastorg, UVI SON 2017 alumna. She stated that, “the 12-hour shift for the Senior clinical practicum gave me a hands-on experience, increasing growth and a greater understanding of the roles and scope of nursing.”
Donastorg is a registered nurse working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Schneider Regional Medical Center. She is also employed at Premiere Health Care Services, a home health agency.
“It is very rewarding after working so hard over the past years. Starting from a student nurse, transitioning into a graduate nurse and now a registered nurse, I feel quite accomplished,” said Donastorg.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States and Canada. There are two types, theNational Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). After graduation from a SON, one takes the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam to receive his or her nursing license. A nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing, granted by the state where he or she met the requirements.