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Discussion

Should I apply here??

I have a question regarding pass rates on the NCLEX-RN. What would you consider a "good" rate? The school I plan to apply to had an 83% pass rate last year, an 86% the year before, and only a 75% the year before that.

Are these good numbers?? They seem low to me. I obviously want to get accepted as soon as I can, but don't want to spend two years at a school that doesn't adequately prepare me for the NCLEX!:uhoh21:

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I think 86% is good, but definitely not 75%.

Sorry Double Post

Yeah, 86% is pretty good, my school's pass rate is about that. Usually about 42 out of 49 pass the N-CLEX the first time. So I guess 7 didn't pass the first time.

  • Experts

Most people don't have the luxury of comparing pass rates or other school criteria other than the obvious one: whether or not there is publicity about the school being forced to close. There are too few available programs and too many prospective students in most areas. Don't look at it in the light of the school preparing you to pass the NCEX. You do most of the work in that respect anyway. However, if there are several programs to choose from, and no waiting lists, try to talk to former students about the quality of the day to day instruction. This is what will be concerning you. You want to choose the school where you will have the best chance of academic success as well as receiving a solid foundation to study for the boards. Good luck.

I somewhat disagree with the previous post...there are some programs out there that prepare students a lot better than others and if you can get "accurate" NCLEX passing rates than I think this is something to judge a school by. The problem is getting accurate rates any school can say they have an above 90% passing rate, who is going to say different?

I agree with asking around to try and find a school that is more difficult or has a better passing rate. I went to a program that boasted the fact that they haven't had a student fail the boards in 5 years...hmm if this was true the class before me broke that record by having 1 student not pass both the LPN and the RN. My class also had 1 student not pass her LPN and RN boards (this was a language barrier in my opinion however).

In my area the better programs have long waiting lists and without good grades in your pre-req's you might as well not apply but the programs that are not known to be as good the waiting lists are much shorter if at all.

  • Experts

The gist of my previous post was supposed to be that in most circumstances there are not that many programs available at all and those that are available, are difficult to get into. Most students apply to every school in their area, (if there are more than one), and pray that any school will accept them.

I doubt that any school would deliberately misrepresent their passing rate. Some states post this info on their board's website.

Good luck in finding the nursing program that fits your needs.

  • Experts

The national average is around 84% for first-time takers. That gives you a starting point for analyzing that information. However, you should be looking at more than that to truly get a good picture of their NCLEX preparation.

For example: Some schools with terrific pass rates achieve those rates by flunking out students who perform poorly on a test that predicts NCLEX success. Now, that might be OK if that happens early in the program before the students have invested a lot of time and money. However, if that happens at the end of the final year ... I wouldn't want to be treated that way. Such a school might provide a lousy education and then "cover their a****" by only allowing their very best test-takers to actually graduate and take the NCLEX.

Another school may have a lower passing rate, but provide a great education with lots of remedial work throughout the program for those who need it. Students get the help they need and most pass the boards -- but a few graduate who fail the test on the first try, but pass it on the second.

Of the two schools I described above, which school would you rather go to?

On the other hand ... any school with a pass rate significanly below the national average is suspect. You have to ask why their scores are so low and why they keep graduating people who can't pass the test. Have they "dummied down" the program so much that it no longer provides a good education? I know some programs like that and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

I agree that pass rates can only tell so much. And just because a school may prepare you for the NCLEX, that doesn't mean that they do a great job preparing you to be a nurse. Both are important. As another suggested, try to get some other info on the programs. Did students feel their education was good? Do practicing nurses see a difference in the students and new nurses from different programs? Take what you hear with a grain of salt as everyone has their own biases, but you may get a general sense about the programs.

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