NICC nursing prog. first in Iowa

Northeast Iowa - A national organization, practicalnursing.org, has ranked the Practical Nursing (LPN) program at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) number one in Iowa after completing a five-year analysis of nursing board examination passing rates statewide.

All 13 LPN programs offered by Iowa’s community colleges were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students towards licensure and beyond.

Practicalnursing.org placed its highest emphasis on pass rates of the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination), a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the U.S. that is used by state boards of nursing around the country for testing proficiency and granting licensure.

NICC administrators believe that the top ranking by the organization is an important and well-deserved endorsement, considering the rigor of the Practical Nursing program, the career preparation required of students and the experience and expertise of its faculty.

“The NICC Nursing program is rigorous in its preparation of nurses for the responsibility of caring for people in a professional nursing career. The students start with a strong academic foundation and build upon that foundation with excellent clinical and simulation experiences to enhance their learning,” Susan Schneider, NICC director of nursing, said. “Graduates of our program are well prepared to be successful on their state board examination. The five-year average for board passing of this program is 97.7 percent, compared to the state average of 91.9 percent and a national average of 83.3 percent.”

Many state boards of nursing use the combined NCLEX-PN exam pass rates for each school as one of the primary ways to approve or deny a school's ability to provide practical and vocational nursing education. According to practicalnursing.org, by examining NCLEX-PN rates over the past five years, community colleges may be accurately evaluated on how well their programs are preparing their students for a career in practical nursing.

Licensed practical nursing occupations in Iowa show strong job growth, according to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are expected to increase 10 percent in Iowa by 2024. 

The Practical Nursing program at NICC includes classroom, lab and clinical experience to prepare students for employment in hospitals, nursing homes and a variety of other healthcare facilities. The LPN provides nursing care to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) and assists RNs in providing care to patients in more complex situations. Following successful completion of the program, students are eligible to write the National Licensure Examin-ation (NCLEX) to become an LPN. The program is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.

For more information visit www.practical nursing.org/ lvn-programs/iowa.