Nursing students rank #1 in Wisconsin

Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) nursing students are the best in the state.

According to the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing, BTC nursing students scored a 95.7% on the most recent National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The score was the best in Wisconsin outranking notables such as Milwaukee Area Technical College, Fox Valley Technical College, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and Carroll University.

“I could not be more proud of our students and the nursing faculty,” said Dr. Doris Ellison, Associate Dean for Nursing. “This exam performance is a testimony to all the hard work our staff and students take on to be a part of a top program. It’s also evidence of BTC’s commitment to helping alleviate the nursing shortage.”

The NCLEX-RN exam is used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to help assess a student’s competency. Many state boards of nursing use NCLEX-RN pass rates as a way to approve a school’s ability to provide nursing education.

During the last three years, BTC has graduated an average of 34 nursing students per year. Based on the college’s graduate follow up survey respondents, 97% of the students were employed within six months of graduation. Employer responses from the same survey stated 100% were satisfied or very satisfied with the student’s technical education.

BTC’s Nursing program is a four-semester course including classroom, skills lab and clinical experiences. Students have the option of completing the first two semesters, then taking an examination which could lead to a license as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Most students prefer to complete all four semesters allowing them to take the examination leading to a license as a Registered Nurse (RN). BTC’s nursing program also has in place 14 different transfer agreements for students who wish to continue their education and pursue a four-year degree.

In addition to being approved by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, the Associate Degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.

“Our students and graduates provide the foundation of the healthcare workforce,” said Nancy Lightfield Dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety. “These results reaffirm the quality and strength of the program and the faculty.”