BTC Nursing Program Ranked #1 in Wisconsin
September 11, 2019
Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) nursing students are among the best in the state based on rankings from RNCareers.org and Wisconsin State Board of Nursing.
RNCareers.org recently announced that BTC is ranked #1 in Wisconsin and is one of the best nursing schools in the nation.
According to the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing, BTC nursing students scored a 94.7% on the most recent National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). BTC was one of two Technical Colleges in Wisconsin to have 100% of its graduates pass the NCLEX-RN exam in 2018, with only two students requiring a second attempt, resulting in a higher pass rate than many four year programs.
“I could not be prouder of our students and the nursing faculty,” said Deb Pessoa, Nursing Program Chair. “The consistently excellent exam performance of our graduates is a testimony to all the hard work our nursing faculty 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 37 nursing students per year. Based on the college’s graduate follow up survey respondents, 100% 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.
“The success of our nursing students is a tribute to the quality of the program, faculty and the invaluable partnerships with local hospital and health systems partners,” said Moira Lafayette, Dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety at BTC. “We find so many of the nursing and healthcare leaders in the community are alumni from BTC programs and they recognize the quality of education and training BTC ADN students attain.”