Graduates from the 2012 Ohio University Southern ADN program and their faculty continue to demonstrate excellence in education at the university.

Southern 2012 ADN graduates and first-time candidates experienced a 98 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

This is the highest percentage in the history of nursing at the Southern campus. The pass rate has risen steadily since Spring 2005.

Associate Professor and Associate Program Director, Nicole Pennington congratulated the nursing faculty on this great achievement by saying, “It is your hard work and dedication to our nursing program that makes this happen. Be proud of your excellence in teaching and the support that you give to our students and to each other.”

During the past seven years, enrollments have increased, as well as, pass rates among nursing graduates.

The June 2012 graduating class was the largest group to successfully complete the nursing program.

The nursing program is currently advising students interested in the new traditional 4-year BSN that was approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing in May 2012.

Students applying for the BSN program in the spring are currently taking the first year of nursing support courses. Pennington attributes the success of the program to dedicated students, support from the campus, and an outstanding faulty.

Ohio University Southern Dean Bill Willan added, “Achieving this pass rate on the national certifying exam shows that excellent students have worked extremely hard to meet the high expectations of our Nursing faculty. It has taken great commitment by the students and by the Nursing faculty and staff, as well as much support from the campus and community, to make this outcome possible.”

Pennington stated that the nursing faculty is made up of accomplished professionals who continuously strive to better the program. For instance, Assistant Professor, Molly Johnson, recently passed the National League for Nursing’s certification for nursing education. Certification in any field is a mark of professionalism.

For academic nurse educators, it establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role.

It communicates to students, peers, and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met.

Pennington, along with Assistant Professors Mashawna Hamilton, and Molly Johnson will attend and present at the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (N-OADN) 2012 Convention, November 9–11, 2012, in New Orleans, LA. N-OADN is the leading advocate for associate degree nursing education and practice and promotes collaboration in charting the future of healthcare education and delivery.