Baptist Health College Little Rock’s spring 2023 graduates celebrate high board passing rates across seven programs of study. Each area of study has a board certification exam specific to the program. Completion of these exams allow students to begin working in their field. This year’s graduating class of 155 students successfully took their first steps to becoming leaders in healthcare.
Traditional and accelerated nursing program graduates take the required National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed nurse. The BHCLR annual first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-RN as reported by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing for the 2022-2023 reporting year was 90.2%. This was higher than any other nursing program in the Little Rock metro area. In addition, this spring’s graduating class of 58 had a first-time pass rate of 98.2%.
Practical nursing graduates complete the NCLEX-PN to become a licensed practical nurse. The BHCLR annual first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-PN as reported by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing for the 2022-2023 reporting year was 84.2%. In addition, spring 2023 graduates have a first-time pass rate of 100% with 10 students left to test.
“Students have embraced the move to active learning in the classroom and are demonstrating evidence of critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. Graduates have shown competency in the program curriculum requirements, have adequately prepared for the NCLEX-RN and PN exam and have responded to our encouragement to test quickly after graduation,” said Laura Hamilton, MNSc, RN, dean of nursing at BHCLR. “We are proud that they have trusted us in this process and have partnered with us for incredible outcomes.”
Allied health programs with a 100% passing rate include radiography, surgical technology, sleep technology, and nuclear medicine. Medical laboratory sciences had an 83% pass rate.