Belmont College nursing program regains "Full Approval Status"

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Belmont College announced in March that it had been once again granted "Full Approval Status" by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Prior to its latest review, the ADN program at Belmont had been under "Provisional Approval" status due to NCLEX exam pass rates for Belmont students falling below 95%. The NCLEX is the national test required for new graduates to become a licensed RN. Administrators cite changes such as lowering class sizes, improving access to tutoring, new facilities, and a new mentoring program as the reasons for the exam success rates coming back up over the 95% threshold. 

A news release from Belmont detailed the improvements to the ADN program and the status change granted by the Ohio Board of Nursing. According to the release, the pass rate of newly-graduated, first time NCLEX takers fell to 93.1% in 2020 and Belmont points out that the cohort of students during that period were forced to complete their degree programs during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Belmont states that changes and improvements were made and that the test-passing rates have improved. Belmont College Director of Nursing Karolyn Fox said, "We are incredibly pleased with our graduates and their NCLEX success rate. These graduates are currently caring for those in our community, and I am so honored to have had the chance to watch them succeed."

Belmont provided examples of changes it has made to improve passing rates for recent graduates taking the NCLEX exam. The college states it has implemented smaller class sizes, introduced new simulation lab software, provides weekly tutoring, and created a mentoring system for students who have graduated but not yet taken their exams. Fox explained, "We provided mentoring to our graduates at no cost for up to six months or until they sat for the NCLEX exam for the first time. This guidance consisted of monitoring graduates' progress on NCLEX preparation electronic software that mimics the NCLEX exam. We kept in frequent contact to provide them the support and assistance that they needed to pass the exam."

Dr. Jeremy Vittek, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, emphasized the hard work of faculty in explaining the college’s success. "We are proud of our long history as a nursing program serving and meeting the needs of our community," Vittek said, adding, "Our faculty is committed to student success, as they work collaboratively in clinical settings with students and provide concept-based curriculum through instructional methods such as active learning and simulation opportunities."