UJ Nursing Graduates Achieve Perfect Pass Rate on National Exam
JAMESTOWN, N.D.: University of Jamestown’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program achieved a 100 percent pass rate for the 2022-23 fiscal and academic year, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) year-end report. This pass rate is well above the national average of 83.19 percent.
A perfect pass rate means all UJ students who took the National Council Licensure Examination during the last academic year gained licensure as Registered Nurses on their first attempt. These students have gone on to work in Georgia, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri, Oregon, and North Dakota.
According to University President Dr. Polly Peterson, the hard work and success of these students exemplifies what it means to receive a UJ education.
“We are committed to the development of wholeness in our students by adhering to a curriculum of academic excellence which blends the liberal arts with sound professional preparation,” she said. “Graduates of our programs are prepared to enter their careers and make an immediate difference in their chosen field of work. I am so proud of our nursing department and the work they have done to accelerate the process of receiving licensure for our students.”
Nursing Department Chair Kim Ash, DNP shared that she’s especially excited about the perfect pass rate because in April 2023, the NCSBN launched a new exam called the Next Generation NCLEX Examination. This examination incorporated new styles of questions and case studies to better address clinical judgment—requiring UJ nursing faculty to deliver content and test their students’ understanding in new ways.
“This change did not occur overnight—nursing faculty have been working on these changes over the last few years,” Dr. Ash said. “The nursing faculty here at UJ enhanced methods they were already doing well and learned new methods so that our students would be successful on their first attempt at this national exam. Our department incorporated a lot of change, and we are so proud of our students for being up to this challenge.”
UJ’s nursing students hone their skills in a state-of-the-art simulation lab, which includes several high-fidelity simulators. It is in this lab that students experience complex clinical simulation scenarios working in teams. Regardless of this preparation, Dr. Ash said the NCLEX-RN exam is high-stakes and often anxiety-provoking: “With the exam being new this year, students were very nervous going into it. We are so happy to report this 100% pass rate!”
Established as Jamestown College in 1883 by members of the Presbyterian Church, The University of Jamestown is a private, liberal arts university granting Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees as well as Master’s degrees in Education, Leadership, and Clinical Counseling. Doctoral degrees are available in Physical Therapy and Clinical Research. UJ Accelerated, the newest division of the University, is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and delivers intensive upskilling opportunities to learners in a variety of settings. For more information, please visit UJ.edu.
