Any nursing student at APSU can describe how the nursing program is both challenging and competitive. They can explain how they must focus on maintaining good grades and passing numerous tests. The last thing on their minds is making history.

But for the first time in history at APSU, all of the nursing students who took the National Council Licensure Examination for the first time this past summer passed.

Marla Anderson, one of the test takers, said, “The test was like none I had previously taken. I was extremely nervous about passing the exam. Once it was over, I was so worried I failed.”

Anderson was one of 35 students who passed the test and then graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Chita Farrar, Director of the APSU School of Nursing, said, “This is the only time in the program’s history since the first class was enrolled in 1980 that a 100 percent pass rate has been achieved.”

The national average NCLEX pass rate in the December 2008 annual report was 87.06 percent, and our 100 percent pass rate is a historic event for the B.S.N. program. This is a reflection of faculty and student partnership to promote excellence in the nursing program.”

According to the School of Nursing’s Web site, the program “consistently produces graduates who have high NCLEX-RN pass rates, often well above the state and national mean” and “APSU nursing students enjoy a reputation of excellence through employment with agencies nationwide.”

The APSU Student Nurses Association and the Nu Phi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society hosted a luncheon to celebrate this great accomplishment with students, faculty and administrators Monday, Oct. 12.

APSU President Timothy Hall and David Denton, Dean of the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences were among those who attended the celebration and congratulated the test takers.

“The nursing faculty, under Dr. Farrar’s leadership, is vigilant in promoting student success, and their efforts have paid off,” Denton said.

In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the APSU School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in nursing.

For more information about the nursing program, contact Debbie Cochener, nursing adviser and administrative specialist at 221-7708 or cochenerd@apsu.edu or Farrar at 221-6317.