MCC Nursing Grads Lead National Average on NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate

During the reporting period from April to September 2017, Muskegon Community College Nursing Program graduates ranked number one in the country on the National Council Licensing Examination for the RNs (NCLEX-RN). On the NCLEX-RN exam, MCC graduates had a 100% first time pass rate versus 85% nationwide.

“While there are other schools that have a 100% pass rate, what makes MCC’s accomplishment all the more impressive is that we have a non-competitive enrollment,” said MCC Interim Director of Nursing, Chris Patterson, MSN, RN, CNE. “Any student who meets the requirements to come into the program will get a seat—maybe not right away, but they will be admitted to the program. In other words, students don’t need to have a 4.0 GPA to enter our program and don’t need to reapply for admission if they don’t get in right away.”

MCC students have consistently exceeded the state and national averages for first-time passing of the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. MCC students’ success on the NCLEX-PN has consistently been at or around 100%.

“We encourage our students to take the NCLEX-PN exam for a couple of reasons, the first being an opportunity to experience the exam before they take the NCLEX-RN,” said Patterson. “The second reason is that the ability to work as an LPN while finishing the ladder program provides valuable experience that can help them in their roles as Registered Nurses a year later.”

The program has remained fully approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing since its inception. Since 2006, the program has been nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), a national accrediting body for Associate Degree Nursing programs.

The MCC Nursing Program traces its roots back to 1962 with a vocational nursing program. In 1981, a career ladder associate degree nursing program was established to supplant the Hackley School of Nursing Diploma Program and the MCC Practical Nursing Program.

In 2017, the MCC Nursing Program awarded 63 Associate Degrees in Nursing and 70 Practical Nurse Diplomas.

“The MCC Faculty is very proud that we have provided quality nurses who care for members of our community in many different settings over the years,” said Patterson.

For more information on the program, visit www.muskegoncc.edu/nursing  or call (231) 777-0281.