Nursing School Programs Under Review

The Kentucky Board of Nursing finds four schools are not meeting the grade when it comes to the number of R.N. graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Exam.

The Lees College Campus of Hazard Community and Technical College is among those under review.

HCTC officials say as a whole, 87% of its R.N. students passed the national exam last year. They say changes are already taking shape at each of its campuses to make sure those students are better prepared for the test.

Seniors Christy Boyd and Vanessa Bellar are getting ready to graduate from the R.N. program at the Lees College Campus, but the work is far from over.

"After I graduate, I'll probably study for a couple more weeks before I take boards, but i do feel like I've been properly prepared for the NCLEX," said Bellar.

The Kentucky Board of Nursing says for the past three years, the Lees Campus has not met the 85% required pass rate.

"Sometimes they just run into some problems and the board is there to make sure they correct the problems and carry on," said Nathan Goldman, general counsel for the KBN.

HCTC officials say a board member visited the Lees Campus in February to see some of the changes, including a full time nurse that works with students facing difficulty to new guidelines for test writing.

"We want to mirror as closely as we can the NCLEX board exam," said Dr. R. Kathy Smoot, Service Provost.

HCTC officials are planning to ask the board to clarify why it looks at the Lees and Hazard campuses separately and not as the same program.

The KBN is expected to meet April 23rd and 24th to discuss the next step. Members are expected to ask officials from each of the four colleges make presentations on how they can improve the pass rate.

HCTC officials say 100% of its evening class that graduated recently passed the national exam.


Reporter: Michel Mason
Article Source: wkyt.com