Lander University’s School of Nursing is the only BSN program in South Carolina to have 100 percent of its graduates to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in the first and second quarters of 2023.
NCLEX is a rigorous, nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses.
Dr. Holisa Wharton, dean of Lander’s School of Nursing, attributes the success of Lander’s nursing program to its faculty. “The dedication of our faculty, the time our faculty put in with our students and the quality of education they provide have ensured that our graduates are well-prepared for their careers. They put in a considerable amount of time to make sure that our students are ready for this critical exam and also for their futures.”
Of the 1,009 first-time test takers throughout South Carolina in the second quarter, 983 passed, giving the state an impressive 94.42 pass rate. This supercedes the state’s first quarter rate of 89.5 percent and the second quarter rate of 87.1 percent in 2022, said Peter A. Kubas, education consultant for the State Board of Nursing for the state of South Carolina.
“South Carolina’s nursing programs and faculty have done an exceptional job of preparing their students for success,” Kubas said.
Lander is increasing the number of its prelicensure BSN graduates. “Our program is the fifth largest in the state, with only USC Columbia, Clemson, the Medical University of South Carolina and USC Spartanburg having more students,” Wharton said.
Despite the growing number of students, Wharton said Lander has not sacrificed the quality of its program. “Our faculty are adamant in their commitment that we will produce good students and good nurses.”
Over the past year, the University has opened Lander’s Self Regional Healthcare Nursing Skills Simulation Center to enhance the clinical education of nursing students. The nursing program also has been the recipient of major funding for the Self Regional Scholars Program to provide scholarships to 15 of the highest performing junior-level students at Lander.