OBU Nursing Graduates Earn 100 Percent Pass Rate on NCLEX Exam

February 1, 2018

Recent graduates of Oklahoma Baptist University’s College of Nursing earned a 100 percent pass rate on the 2017 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The OBU students surpassed both the national average of 87.12 percent and the Oklahoma average of 86.27 percent.

The NCLEX is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses within the United States and Canada. After graduation from a school of nursing, students must pass the exam to acquire a license as a registered nurse.

Though a 100 percent pass rate is an outstanding achievement, OBU’s College of Nursing has seen a steady increase in its pass rate over the past five years. This comes as a result of faculty who continue to engage in professional development at the national level to stay on top of changes in nursing education. In the past three years, three faculty members have achieved certification as nurse educators, one has received certification as a nursing simulation educator and four faculty members are currently working on their doctoral degrees.

Dr. Lepaine McHenry, dean of the College of Nursing, claims that OBU’s nursing faculty are the driving force behind the college’s success.

“What sets our program apart from others are the faculty,” McHenry said. “Our faculty have a heart for God and it is evident in their work, relationships and service to the community.”

OBU’s nursing program offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a BSN completion degree for nurses with an associate degree, an LPN to BSN, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in either nursing education or global nursing.

In 1952, the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing granted OBU the approval for Oklahoma’s first baccalaureate nursing program. The inaugural class of 11 students graduated in 1956. The College of Nursing has thrived over the last six decades and opened its new state-of-the-art facility, Stavros Hall, in 2016.

Stavros Hall includes five classrooms, a 109-seat lecture hall and a computer lab, as well as spaces for students to study, meet and interact with faculty. The facility features six high-fidelity skills simulation labs, a medium skills lab, a health assessment skills lab, and a home health and bathing training room, totaling 24 beds. The high-tech simulation labs are equipped with the industry’s most advanced medical simulation solutions.

McHenry believes the College of Nursing offers a unique and engaging experience to its students that prepares them for a future in nursing.

“We equip young men and women with knowledge, skills and the critical thinking abilities to tackle complex situations in the workplace,” McHenry said. “The college provides a holistic nursing education, integrating faith in learning. Because of these attributes, our graduates are highly sought out by employers. Most of our students are employed prior to their graduation. Our graduates are able to engage their minds, hearts and hands to provide sensitive and compassionate care to a diverse world.”

For more information about OBU’s College of Nursing, visit www.okbu.edu/nursing.