WILSON, N.C. — December 1, 2020 — With stamina and persistence, Barton College’s School of Nursing Class of 2020 graduates never wavered in their goal to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this past spring. And, that same grit and determination helped 100% of them pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) on the first try.
A 100% pass rate of this arduous exam is significant in any given year, but it is especially impressive given that these 26 nursing graduates had to complete their studies in the middle of a pandemic.
“We are very proud of our nursing students, our faculty and clinical instructors, and our partners in the healthcare system, all of whom worked together during this most complicated time to make it possible for the 2020 nursing graduates to be successful in passing the NCLEX,” noted Dr. Gary Daynes, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Barton College. “This commitment to collaboration and partnership is deeply gratifying, and it is a testament to the academic strength and adeptness of our nursing program.”
Nursing students master a stringent academic program of study while completing clinical experiences delivered via hospital and direct patient care, complex simulation, and virtual simulation during their Barton Experience. This intense regimen helped prepare them to navigate the coronavirus-caused shift to remote learning during their last three months of study in the program. They were held to the same high academic standards, and they persevered.
“During Open Houses and in my recruitment for the School of Nursing, I often note that we educationally prepare our nursing students for a career that will change countless times,” shared Dr. Sharon I. Shepard, dean of the Barton College School of Nursing. “Our students saw that change come to pass in a mere three-month period of time. I never would have believed that we could completely convert nursing education at Barton from in-person to virtual classes so quickly and have our faculty and our students demonstrate such amazing resilience. From the beginning of the pandemic, the students kept asking, ‘How can we get into the field to help more quickly?’ Our nursing faculty grappled with the call for professional nursing and doubled down to get the most prepared nursing graduates out into the field to serve our communities as frontline medical team members.
“For many of our nursing students, the challenge of becoming a nurse in direct patient care has been unbelievable during these recent months,” Shepard added. “Jobs accepted in February became something entirely different by May. Many of our graduates went directly into the workforce and studied for the NCLEX while serving on the frontlines in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Our nursing graduates are successful, and we are incredibly proud of the work they are doing in the clinical and administrative settings of the healthcare industry. They truly are #BartonBoldNursing in Covid.”
During the past five decades, the Barton College School of Nursing has exhibited a steadfast tradition of academic excellence and a strong reputation for educating and preparing nurses and nurse administrators for the healthcare industry. Barton’s competitive nursing program incorporates comprehensive admission standards to bring the most qualified students into the program. “If a student is admitted into the Barton School of Nursing, we are committed to his/her success,” Shepard emphasized.
Founded in 1971, the Barton College School of Nursing will celebrate its 50th year in 2021 as a historically well-respected academic program among its peers across the state. Barton’s School of Nursing is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
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