Western Nevada College's 2009 nursing graduates were nearly perfect in their pass rate on the national licensure examination this fall. The nursing program is reporting a 96 percent first-time pass rate, with 45 of 47 students passing the examination so far this year. It was the second highest pass rate in the state, behind only Great Basin College, which saw all 10 graduates succeed.
Dr. Judith Cordia, director of Nursing and Allied Health, said the nursing graduates "are to be commended for their dedication to the pursuit of excellence. This stellar pass rate shows that our students have the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to protect the lives of patients. The entire college community is proud of their accomplishments."
WNC performed higher than national average rankings for both associate degree and baccalaureate degree nursing programs, according to statistics released by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The national average pass rate for associate degree graduates was 88 percent and the national average pass rate for baccalaureate degree graduates was 90 percent.