PUC’s Nursing Program Scores High NCLEX Rankings

The nursing program at Pacific Union College achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the December 2023 graduates, demonstrating how PUC adequately prepares students for NCLEX and their career beyond.

“As a leader of a nursing program it is the best feeling to know that you are providing your students with quality education that prepares them for success,” said Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Kimberly Dunker. “The PUC nursing team is so excited about the students' accomplishment.”

The department currently has an overall pass rate of 94% for the year and anticipates a 100% pass rate from the Winter and Spring quarter students' results.

Dunker, and her team have worked hard with their students, making changes in their curriculum that best support graduates.

They use readiness resources through books and products, which have been incorporated into the curriculum and mapped to ensure that students are prepared for NCLEX. In the last two quarters, the sixth quarter students' NCLEX readiness exam was 90% or higher. This demonstrates to the nursing instructors that their program adequately prepares the students for NCLEX with a 90% or higher predictability that they will pass their licensure exam.

The lead professors for quarter six include Professor Nicolette Piaubert for theory, Professor Christa Reiger and Serah Choi MSN, RN for simulation, and Professor Sandra Ringer for management. Additionally, Hannah Saravanakumar, director of the AS program, and Helene Linzau, curriculum chair, provided leadership and dedication to ensuring that PUC nursing students are ready for graduation. 

Historically, the Napa program under the leadership of Debbie Wallace, Director of LVN/Med Teach/EMT-P to RN Off-Campus Programs has had 100% pass rates. Now, the Angwin program shares that statistic.

Additionally, PUC continues to maintain high standards with 780 direct clinical hours compared to many programs in California that only require the minimum number of direct care hours (500). The focus on direct care clinical hours, simulation, and expert teaching promotes students' readiness for practice. 

The hospitals in the area prefer PUC graduates because their transition to practice is seamless, and they are so well prepared for their technical RN careers. The nursing program has several external agreements with local hospitals for PUC students who attain 150 practicum hours in the last quarter of the program toward their first job in that hospital.