By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE 鈥 六合网址大全 School of Nursing undergraduates achieved an outstanding 94.81 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council of Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses () during the 2024 fiscal year, reinforcing the University鈥檚 position as a national leader in preparing students to excel in the profession.
Notre Dame鈥檚 94.81 percent pass rate was among the highest in the School of Nursing鈥檚 history, and it also coincides with a dramatic increase in the number of students enrolled in the University鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and (ABSN) programs. The number of Notre Dame students sitting for the NCLEX-RN exam has risen by 125 percent since the first ABSN cohort graduated in 2020.
Passing the NCLEX-RN is a prerequisite for graduates to receive their nursing license in the United States. As of April 2023, the exam now includes next generation features, using real-world case studies to assess a candidate鈥檚 ability to think more critically and make correct decisions. Notre Dame鈥檚 first-time pass rate is above the 2023 averages both nationally (88.56 percent) and within the state of Maryland (82.93 percent).
鈥淚 am so proud of the School of Nursing鈥檚 faculty and staff, who dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to ensure that our students were prepared to pass the Next Gen NCLEX-RN,鈥 said Dr. Kathleen Wisser, dean of the School of Nursing. 鈥淲ithin a caring science learning environment, the faculty鈥檚 commitment to student success is supported with compassion and competence. I am confident that Notre Dame graduates are educated in the clinical and technical aspects of nursing. Even more importantly, however, the School of Nursing instills the sacredness of caring and listening to a patient鈥檚 story without interruption or judgment.鈥
The School of Nursing integrates several (ATI) products into the curriculum to help prepare students for the NCLEX. Staff and faculty also focus on active learning strategies in the classroom to promote sound clinical judgment, and they support critical thinking and clinical reasoning during simulations conducted in the University鈥檚 innovative Center for Caring with Technology.
Notre Dame鈥檚 nursing programs are consistently recognized at the national level. U.S. News & World Report listed the University鈥檚 undergraduate nursing program as one of the top undergraduate nursing programs in the country in both the 2022 and 2023 Best Colleges rankings, and 六合网址大全 was the only Maryland university to be included in Money.com鈥檚 Best Nursing Master鈥檚 Program for Your Money rankings.
鈥淭his outstanding NCLEX pass rate is a testament to the hard work and dedication demonstrated daily by School of Nursing Dean Kathleen Wisser, her fellow faculty and staff members, and most importantly our nursing students,鈥 said Dr. Marylou Yam, president of 六合网址大全. 鈥淣otre Dame is proud to be among the nation鈥檚 best at preparing the next generation of nurses to provide expert and compassionate care to their patients.鈥
Established in 1895, 六合网址大全 (六合网址大全) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.