stats on BSN nursing programs

I believe that most state boards of nursing have those statistics. Whether or not they release them, I don't know. I have never seen them posted on any of the board of nursing websites that I surf around on, however. But, then again, I'm not specifically looking for them. Try calling your state board and see what they have to say.

I doubt that the company that administers the NCLEX will release that information without having you pay for it. They have to make money somehow. You have posed a very good question and I will put it on my "to do" list.

well, i went over to the texas bon site and couldn't find any nclex scores posted, so i suggest you call them. i did, however, find some general statistics at the ncsbn (national council of state boards of nursing) web site which is the organization that administers the nclex and found this link

http://www.ncsbn.org/testing/psychometrics_nclexpassrates.asp - nclex pass rates. the statistics they give, however, are national ones, but they are broken down by type of program (diploma, bsn, adn) and also by first and second attempt taken. it's a place to start. there is also contact information listed there.

While I do recommend that people look at those types of stats, I caution you in your interpretation of them. Higher pass rates don't necessarily mean a "better" school -- particularly if there are only a few percentage points difference. Consider the following comparison:

Imaginary school #1 admits 100 students but only allows 50 of the to graduate by flunking out anyone who can't pass a standardized test given in the last semester. They also offer very little support for students who struggle with the material and all classes are geared to passing the NCLEX and nothing else. Their graduates are competent beginner-level nurses but do not have the comprehensive education that supports career advancement. All 50 graduates pass NCLEX on the first attempt for a 100% pass rate.

Imaginary school #2 admits 100 students and tries to provide a well-balanced education that prepares the students not only for the NCLEX, but also for the many other aspects of actual nursing practice not covered by the exam. They have a very supportive culture and help students who are struggling. Their graduates have a strong reputation for making good staff nurses and good leaders. 90 out of the 100 students admitted to the program graduate and 81 of them pass NCLEX on the first attempt, giving them a 90% NCLEX pass rate. The 9 who failed the exam on the try re-took the exam within 2 months and all passed it on the 2nd try.

Which school do you think is the better school?

llg

In the end, don't forget that the best school for you personally might not be the best school for someone else. People have different needs. Collect information about the ones you are considering and "get a feel" for what it is like to be a student there and the type of things they emphasize in their program. Then consider your own needs and preferences.

After you have done that homework, then you simply have to go with your gut. Which school feels like the right choice for you? Which school best meets your personal needs? Remember that each possibility has its strengths and weaknesses (different emphasis) and that you probably won't find one that is perfect in every way.

Personally, I always looked closely at the cirricula of the schools I was investigating. What material was emphasized? Did the courses sound like ones I wanted to take? Would the program do a good job of giving me skills that would serve me well long-term over the course of an entire career? etc. Having confidence in my ability to survive almost anything, I was willing to sacrifice a little "hand-holding" in favor of strong academic preparation and a well-rounded approach that would give me the intellectual skills I would need for many years to come as the world of nursing changed.

Other people may be very timid and/or need a lot of emotional support. They may need a school that provides a lot of 1 on 1 education and is minimally stressful. Such a person would not thrive in a highly competitive atmosphere in which a lot of students flunk out.

Still other people may have no interest in career advancement and don't care about preparing for graduate school and/or advanced roles. If so, they would not be happy in a program that emphasized those things.

Choosing a school should be as much about assessing yourself as it is about assessing the possible schools.

Good luck,

llg