(COLUMBIA, Tenn. – April 24, 2020) - - -The Columbia State Community College nursing program received a 100 percent first-attempt National Council Licensure Examination pass rate for the fall 2019 nursing graduates who have tested to date.

The 100 percent first-time pass rate exceeds the national average of 88.3 percent.

“Learning experiences for nursing students at Columbia State are top-notch,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. “A 100 percent first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate is evidence of the student and faculty commitment to ensuring nursing graduates are well prepared for rewarding careers providing exceptional care.”

Columbia State nursing graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 450 hours of clinical instruction in order to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

Nursing students are trained to provide direct patient care in various areas, including medical, surgical, pediatrics and more. After graduation, these nurses will work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools and home health care settings.

“The nursing faculty work diligently to help students achieve a high benchmark that is essential for providing safe, patient-centered nursing care,” said Dr. Cheryl Smith, Columbia State nursing program director.

The Columbia State nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education. It has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The program’s four-year average graduate job placement rate is 97.6 percent.

Columbia State’s nursing program has a competitive admission process with applicants admitted twice per year. For more information about applying to the program, contact Smith at 931.540.2608 or csmith56@ColumbiaState.edu, or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.