AUSTIN –WGU Texas’ bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) prelicensure program had a passage rate of 100 percent for the 2019 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The online, non-profit university is one of only nine schools in Texas to receive this distinction. NCLEX pass rates are monitored by the Texas State Board of Nursing as a measure of how well-prepared students are to pass the national licensure examination. The national average pass rate is 88.56 percent.
“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and also, incredibly proud of our program,” said Dr. Steven Johnson, WGU Texas Chancellor. “WGU Texas nursing students are excelling at a time when this high-demand occupation is becoming increasingly important to Texas, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state.”
In conjunction with its valuable online instruction, WGU Texas partners with community colleges and hospitals across the state to ensure students receive the high-quality experiences necessary to achieve their goal of becoming a BSN prepared registered nurse – including, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, CHI, Baylor Scott and White, Westpark Springs, Harris Health, Crescent Medical Center, HCA, UT Southwestern, Woodland Heights Medical Center, and Shriner’, and the Houston Independent School District.
WGU Texas’ partnerships with local community colleges help support simulation experiences, including El Centro Community College, Temple Community College, Angelina Community College, North Central Texas Community College, Alamo College and Hill College.
Another key ingredient for success is the new WGU Texas’ SIM lab located in the Houston area. The lab creates additional opportunities for online students to build confidence by applying the skills they learned in a physical, clinical setting. Various levels of mannequins and simulators add realism and complexity to learning experiences. For example, the ability to program heart and lung sounds in the “patients” enables students to listen and monitor appropriate anatomical locations. As students progress, learning becomes more complex, with the incorporation of psycho-social, communication and critical thinking skills.
“We are extremely proud of our WGU nursing graduates and know this accomplishment would not be possible without our strong partnerships, which provide students with extraordinary clinical and lab experiences utilizing simulation,” State Director of Nursing for WGU Texas, Dr. Dinez “Dee” Swanson, DNP, RN. “Their support is profoundly instrumental in our students’ success, and we are so grateful for their dedication to working side-by-side with them and investing in their educational journey.”
To learn more about WGU Texas’ nursing programs, please visit https://www.wgu.edu/online-nursing-health-degrees.html.
