UNE nursing students achieve highest NCLEX pass rate in program’s history

UNE's nursing graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with a rate of 98.9 percent, surpassing the na
UNE's nursing graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) with a rate of 98.9 percent, surpassing the national average of 89.41 percent and the state average of 89 perecent.

The University of New England’s Nursing program is celebrating the highest pass rate of licensing exams in its history. For calendar year 2018, UNE nursing graduates achieved a 98.9 percent pass rate of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), surpassing the national average of 89.41 percent and the state average of 89 percent.

Karen Pardue, Ph.D., RN, CNE, ANEF, dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions, expressed her delight with the pass rate. “UNE is doing remarkable work educating the next generation of nurses for the state of Maine, Northern New England, and the rest of the country,” she stated. “I want to congratulate Jennifer Morton, D.N.P, M.P.H, APHN-BC, director of Nursing, and all of the faculty in the department for this impressive achievement.”

The high pass rate is especially noteworthy given the large number of UNE nursing graduates who sat for the exam. With 93 students taking the NCLEX for nursing, UNE’s cohort was the second largest among all nursing programs in Maine.

Pardue credits the students’ success to their hard work and to the rigorous preparation and training that UNE’s Nursing program provides. “Their training doesn’t end at graduation,” she notes. “Our faculty members work with the students right up to the point in time that they take their exams.”

UNE’s testing cohort was composed of students from both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a traditional four-year course of study, and the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in other majors.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.