Terry Wright (left), director of Northeastern Technical College’s nursing department, receives instructions from educational support specialist Shannon Packard about how to operate the department’s new simulation mannequin, which is a valuable educational tool for nursing students. The Class of 2011 recently set a record for the Associate Degree of Nursing program by being the first class to have a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam for first-time takers.

October 26, 2011
NETC Nursing Graduates Achieve Milestone for ADN Program
 
The 2011 graduates of Northeastern Technical College’s Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) class achieved a significant feat recently. All 23 members of the class passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam on their first attempt. Graduates of the program must pass the NCLEX before they can be designated as Registered Nurses (RN).

 “I am extremely proud of the nursing faculty, administrators and students for this outstanding achievement and for making the Associate Degree of Nursing program successful,” Dr. Ron Bartley, president of the college, said. “The ADN program is a significant asset to our community, and we are pleased to prepare so many capable and qualified nurses for jobs in our region.”

While graduates of the College’s ADN program carry a high percentage of successful first-time NCLEX exam takers, this is the first class to achieve a 100 percent first time pass rate.
 
Registered nurse Alex Barkman, of Cheraw, was one of the 23 members of the ADN Class of 2011 and served as class president.
 
“As a class we are so proud of this accomplishment because it is a personal win for each of us, and it shows how well the College has prepared us for this profession,” Barkman said. “This is a rigorous 21-month program that will challenge you to your limits, but this success shows we could do it and that the College is producing competent, caring professionals who are ready to serve others.”

NETC developed the ADN program in response to a growing demand for registered nurses in Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon counties. The program enrolled its first group of students in fall 2007 and has now graduated three classes. An important partner in developing the program is McLeod Medical Center in Dillon.
 
“McLeod Dillon is proud of this significant accomplishment,” said Cindy Causey, associate administrator of Human and Mission Services for McLeod Medical Center in Dillon. “Because nurses are so vital to health care and the region’s economy, Dillon is fortunate to have a nursing education program of this caliber as the medical center continues to meet the needs of the region’s patients and offer enhanced services.”
  
In addition to the ADN program, Northeastern Technical College offers a Practical Nursing (PN) program that prepares students for a career as a License Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA) program that many students complete to acquire employment as they work through the PN or ADN programs. The rate for PN students successfully passing the NCLEX-PN exam to earn the LPN credential is also high for first-time test takers.

“This is a huge achievement for this program and our students,” Terry Wright, head of NETC’s Nursing Department, said. “Even though we are in a rural area, students can stay close to home and still pursue their pathway to a career in nursing by attending a quality program in our service region.”

To learn how to enroll in the nursing program at NETC, visit the website, www.netc.edu, and click on “Pathways,” or call 1-800-921-7399.