Young Memorial grads pass state nursing test on first try

The May graduating class from South Central Louisiana Technical College Young Memorial Campus had a 100 percent passing rate of the state exam for its seven first-time test-takers, according to a news release issued by the campus last week.
After graduating the college’s nursing program, the nurses must then take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses, commonly known in the profession as the NCLEX-PN. The test is administered at various locations by the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners. The seven students tested at locations either in New Orleans or Baton Rouge, according to Johnnie Landry, public relations coordinator for the college.
“If the student does not pass this state test they cannot become a licensed nurse,” Landry said. “The test covers everything a nurse is required to know from anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, dosage calculations, diseases, illness, safety, and other categories,” Landry said.
The seven students are Veronica Simpson, Shakita Raymond, Ashley Chevis, Katie Cook, Ashley Holmes, Samone Gray and Jada Berthelot.
The college is accredited with the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
“COE grades us on first-time writers. If our students fail the exam on the first try it goes against our percentage grade for COE,” Landry said. “One hundred percent is a great task. I am very pleased.”
Graduating from the college and successfully passing the state testing puts these students on a path toward good paying jobs in a high demand field.
“Some of the students already have jobs and one student is furthering her career by going to Nicholls (State University) to obtain her RN degree,” Landry said. “Getting jobs in nursing is not a problem. By the end of summer they will all have jobs unless they don’t want to work.”
Students expressed relief the testing was over and appreciation for their training at the college which prepared them for success with the tests, Landry said.