Practical Nursing Graduates Report Perfect Score on NCLEX-PN

CONTACT: LYNN LOLLIS, EXT. 1399

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/25/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- For the seventh time in more than a decade, Tri-County Technical College's Practical Nursing graduates report a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX-PN).

This past fall the 22 August graduates took the exam which tests the nursing process and client needs.

The perfect score ranks above both the state average (96.07) and the national average (88.71) figures, said Lynn Lollis, head of the Practical Nursing department.

"I'm extremely proud of the students. It is a difficult exam, but these students are highly motivated and were academically prepared for the rigorous content of the nursing classes, said Lollis. "We really expected this group to do well because they excelled in clinical and classroom settings. I also give credit to instructors Julie Vernon and Michelle Spitz, who are so creative in their ways of explaining complex materials and concepts in classes and in clinicals," she added.

Students gain clinical experience by working in area hospitals, local physicians' offices, nursing homes and at the Family Practice Center in Anderson. Major employers for graduates are long-term care facilities and acute care facilities.

In addition, the practical nurse is prepared for employment in home health agencies, physicians' offices, ambulatory care facilities and occupational health facilities. Some of the graduates pursue advanced degrees through Tri-County's associate degree Nursing program.

The Practical Nursing department has a 100 percent job placement rate.

The job market is wide open for graduates because of the critical shortage of nurses in the state, said Mrs. Lollis. "I'm pleased to say that our August graduates were able to choose between job offers from hospitals, nursing homes and doctor's offices," she said.

The program is accredited through 2006 by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The department is approved by the State Board of Nursing for S.C.
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