Henderson State University’s nursing program has been ranked as one of the best in Arkansas by RegisteredNursing.org. The online site ranked Henderson’s program No. 2 among the top 10 nursing programs in the state.
Nursing programs were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students towards licensure and beyond. RegisteredNursing.org analyzed past and present first time NCLEX-RN pass rates weighted by year.
There are 26 R.N. programs in the state.
In 2017, Henderson’s graduating nursing class received 100 percent first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for new nurses for the second year in a row.
The NCLEX exam is a standardized exam that each state board of nursing uses to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice after completing an accredited nursing degree.
“This outstanding accomplishment is a direct result of the excellent faculty and staff we have on the nursing faculty team at Henderson State,” said Dr. Shelley Austin, nursing department chair and assistant professor. “It also represents the hard work each of those two (2016 and 2017) cohorts demonstrated in the pursuit of their career.”
The nursing department has also received full approval, without any recommendations or revisions, from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) through 2022.
“The program has met the student learning and program outcomes according to the standards set by ASBN and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)” said Austin.
The CCNE is the program’s national accrediting agency.
In November 2017, Henderson’s Board of Trustees approved plans to offer the university’s first doctoral program – the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree. In addition, a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) was approved.
“These programs are an extension of our newly added online R.N. to B.S.N. program and the success our cooperation with CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs has had,” said Dr. Steve Adkison, provost. “We’re extending the ladder of opportunity for area nurses and helping our region respond to a nationwide nursing shortage.”
The M.S.N. program will produce either nursing administrators or practitioners and will flow naturally into the D.N.P. program. The first students should be able to enroll in January 2019.
On Friday, Adkison introduced the university’s intent to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board.