Nursing Program Exceeds National Average in NCLEX Pass Rates

Oklahoma Christian University’s Nursing program is reaching new heights after receiving data from its 2022 graduating class. 

“We recently got all of the data from the April 2022 graduates,” Professor Becky O’Neil said. “Our pass rate for the NCLEX this year was 91%, which is above state and national averages. We’re pretty excited.”

The Oklahoma average for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) during 2022 was 86.97%, while the national average was 79.93%.

 “We spend a lot of time with them in class and in clinical studies,” O’Neil said. “In addition to that, we also make sure we are available for tutoring and study help.”

Nursing students are required to take the NCLEX to enter the nursing field and often prepare semesters in advance to give themselves the best chance of passing. 

“The NCLEX is a very particular exam, and it uses very particular language and very particular knowledge,” Senior Roman Schiavo said. “Within the medical field itself, the NCLEX is known as a test that makes you choose between all good answers, and you have to figure out which one’s the best.”

In order to help students prepare for the exam, professors and staff ensure the nursing students feel supported in their studies. 

 “We have some commercial products we use to help students study and prepare for the NCLEX that have been really helpful in predicting student success and helping students fill in any gaps in knowledge they have before they go and take the NCLEX,” O’Neil said. “Specifically, ATI is a testing and preparation software we use.”

Student-professor mentorships also play an important role in the program, as students can learn practical knowledge and valuable information about the medical field from them.

“The thing I’ve found to be quite captivating about the Oklahoma Christian nursing program is its professors,” Schiavo said. “They’re always absolute joys to be around.”

In addition to the personal relationships built between professors and students outside of the classroom, professors also take measures within the classroom to encourage the success of their students.

“I think the fact that we have small class sizes really contributes to the success of the nursing program,” O’Neil said. “We really form relationships with our students.” 

However, the nursing student’s success ultimately relies on their personal ambitions and goals empowering them to reach their full potential.

“I want to do something and have a career where I can look back and say I helped someone. I want to be able to look back and see that I had a vital role in that person getting better,” Schiavo said. “I think this is pretty common among the field of nursing. There is always a push and a personal drive to help people. That’s why we’re here.”