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Shenandoah Nursing Graduates Continue To Excel On NCLEX

Alumni posted perfect pass rates in second half of 2023, exceeded yearlong national average

Shenandoah University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates continued to shine on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), posting a perfect first-time pass rate for the second half of 2023 and outpacing the national average on the exam that is required to practice as a registered nurse.

Shenandoah’s first-time test takers posted an overall pass rate of 98.25% in 2023, surpassing the national first-time passing rate of 90.17% for nursing students who earned baccalaureate degrees. That mark also ranked among the top first-time pass rates in the state of Virginia and is one of the highest rates ever recorded for Shenandoah’s Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing.

For the first time, Shenandoah’s BSN graduates recorded perfect 100% NCLEX first-time pass rates for the third and fourth quarters of 2023. 

These high marks are a testament to the hard work of our nursing students, and to the commitment of our faculty to ensure that our students are well prepared to take the NCLEX after graduation. All of us in the School of Nursing take pride in equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as registered nurses.”

Lisa Levinson, Ph.D., dean of the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing

Shenandoah’s first-time pass rates have eclipsed 93% in each of the last five years, including 97.2% in 2020 and 96.7% in 2021.

The NCLEX is the world’s premier nursing licensure exam and uses computer adaptive technology to assess the test taker’s competency for entry-level practice. More information about the exam is available at nclex.com/About.page.

To learn more about Shenandoah University’s nursing programs, visit su.edu/nursing.

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