Student Nurses in Both Programs Scored Higher than National and State Pass Rate Averages
(Lake Charles, Louisiana – May 18, 2023)
SOWELA Practical Nursing classes at Lake Charles and Jennings locations and the LPN to RN class achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exams. SOWELA nursing students outperformed the national and Louisiana NCLEX averages for both Practical Nursing (PN) and Registered Nurse (RN) exams, exceeding the national average of 79.90% and the statewide average of 85.58% for the NCLEX-RN exam1 and the national average of 79.9%2 and the statewide average of 83%3 for the NCLEX-PN exam.
“We are very proud of this achievement, not only for the students that achieved this, but also for the faculty that teach in each of those programs,” said School of Nursing and Allied Health Dean Kristine Stout. “Our Practical Nursing and LPN to RN programs are very rigorous and this plays a big role in our students’ success on the NCLEX exams.”
The NCLEX is the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. These tests are required for practical nursing and nursing graduates to successfully be licensed as LPNs or RNs in the U.S.
SOWELA’s Practical Nursing program consists of both classroom instruction and supervised clinicals in accredited hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care agencies. The nursing program incorporates concepts of holistic nursing, hierarchy of needs, stress and adaptation, creative problem-solving and psychosocial development. The program is available at all SOWELA locations in Lake Charles, Jennings, Oakdale and Leesville.
SOWELA’s LPN to RN program is specifically for LPNs who wish to earn an Associate of Science in Nursing and become a registered nurse. The three-semester program prepares nursing students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and is available at SOWELA’s Main Campus in Lake Charles.
May 2023 is National Nurses Month according to the American Nurses Association. It focuses on four key areas, including self-care, recognition, professional development and community engagement.
Registration is currently open for Fall 2023 in SOWELA’s nursing programs. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify. Visit our How to Enroll page to learn more or call (337) 421-6550 or email onestop@sowela.edu for details.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 85 years.
1 NCLEX-RN averages. (2022) Retrieved from https://www.lsbn.state.la.us/wp-content/uploads/center-for-nursing/2022nurseedcapacity.pdf (PDF).
2 NCLEX-PN average. (2022) Retrieved from https://nursejournal.org/articles/2022-nclex-pass-rates/#:~:text=As%20of%20the%20third%20quarter,even%20larger%2C%20almost%2013%25 (opens new window).
3 NCLEX-PN average in Louisiana. (2022) Retrieved from https://www.lsbpne.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2022_NCLEX_PassRates.pdf (PDF).