NORTH COAST, Calif. – At graduation on May 22, Mendocino College had 18 nurses who were excited about their graduation, but nervous to take the National Council Licensure Examination.

The NCLEX-RN test is a required exam that measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as an entry level nurse and must be passed before a nurse receives their licensing.

Mendocino College is proud to announce that all of the testing 2014 Mendocino College Nursing Graduates passed the NCLEX exam on the first try.

“When we received the news that all of our students who graduated in May and took their NCLEX-RN had passed there was a joyous feeling of accomplishment and pride,” said Dr. Barbara French, director of nursing at Mendocino College.

“We know how very hard our students worked through the program and how hard we all work as instructors to prepare them,” French said. “This confirms the hard work for both students and instructors. When a student does not pass for any reason we all try and figure out how we could have presented information differently, addressed student learning needs differently, etc. We take it personally. Our pass rate has consistently been among the best, but finally hitting the 100-percent mark was a great feeling.”

French's statement speaks for the individualized attention, positive instruction and great care that the nursing faculty have for their students.

Through the hard work, determination and expertise of these faculty, Mendocino College has been able to boast a state board examination pass rate of 96 percent in the past, well above the statewide average of 86 percent.

Each fall the Mendocino College Nursing program admits eighteen new nursing students into the two-year program.

Each year when the graduating nursing students are surveyed, their overwhelming response is that their success is attributed to their instructors.

One past nursing student, Regina Santiago stated, “The nursing faculty have all been wonderful. They work at least as hard as we do. Our success really matters to them.”

Another graduate, Theresa Rohr, credited the nursing faculty at MC for inspiring her. “They were fabulous. We were all so close, and they were so important in getting me where I wanted and needed to be.”

Nursing students at Mendocino College receive a lot of specialized attention not only from the faculty, but also from the Mendocino College Foundation.

In consideration of the extra time required for schooling and the loss of income faced by many students, finding the funding for all of the necessary supplies for this degree can be exhausting. That’s where the foundation steps in.

In addition to providing nursing shoes, lab coats and emergency funding for student needs – to name a few – the foundation has a big surprise for each graduating class.

In 2012, the Mendocino College Foundation – through the generosity of Albert Beltrami – surprised each of the nursing graduates with a $400 check to fund their state board examination fees.

Since then, the foundation has tirelessly fundraised to provide the same opportunity for each of the graduating class of nurses.

“For every month a nursing candidate waits to take their state board examination, their ability to pass goes down 24 percent,” French said. “It is absolutely critical that our graduates take the examination immediately following graduation, and this annual gift guarantees that they will.” 

On average, once students begin the nursing program their annual income drops by over 43 percent due to the intensity of the program.

With continued excellence in the classroom, the nursing faculty is striving toward matching its 100-percent pass rate again next year.