LOUISIANA COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

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1 LOUISIANA COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM Changing Lives, Creating Futures FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cynthia Toney Director of Public Information (225) , Date: November 3, 2003 System President: Walter G. Bumphus, Ph.D. 100% of graduates pass nursing license exam Officers: Ann H. Knapp Chair Kathy Sellers Johnson First Vice Chair Brett J. Mellington Second Vice Chair Members: E. Edwards Barham Gibson C. Chigbu Dianne M. Christopher John E. DeLaney Ava Dejoie Carl H. Franklin J. Kevin McCotter Sean E. Reilly Stephen C. Smith F. Mike Stone Nicholas P. Trist, Jr. Student Members: Angela Stanley Cedric Washington Every student who graduated in practical nursing this spring and summer from two of Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) colleges L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma and Louisiana Technical College (LTC) Shreveport/Bossier Campus has passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN ) given by the National Council of State Boards. These graduates thereby receive licensure to practice as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in the state of Louisiana. Travis Lavigne, L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College Chancellor, recently learned that the entire August 2003 practical nursing class of 21 graduates passed the NCLEX-PN and has already gained employment in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Louisiana Community & Technical College System 822 Neosho Avenue Baton Rouge, LA Phone Fax A history of excellence continues in southeast Louisiana, said Lavigne. Since admitting its first practical nursing class in 1966, L.E. Fletcher has graduated 960, with an average passing rate on the NCLEX-PN of 98.3%.

2 Marcie Guidry, RN, Health Occupations Coordinator, explained the success achieved by the college and its graduates. We are here to assist the students in achieving their educational goals, and the students are our number one priority, she said. The word on the bayou is that Fletcher is the best program locally. You ll be prepared when you leave here, said Rebel Callais, a currently enrolled student from Bayou Lafourche. LTC-Shreveport/Bossier Nursing Department Director Ruby Brown, whose May 2003 class achieved a 100% passing rate on the NCLEX-PN this summer, said, We are very proud of these nursing graduates. It has been a team effort to improve our results on boards for first-time testers. Our goal has been to prepare our students so well that they will not have to take the NCLEX-PN more than once. We have implemented several changes which we feel have helped these students prepare for the exam a series of videos to view, computer test banks by Meds Publishing, and a required practice test called the Sandra Smith Assessment test that shows areas of weakness on which to focus. Shannon Roberts, the last graduate from May 2003 to take the exam, felt anxious awaiting the results and was elated when she found out that she too had passed, resulting in a perfect record for her class. The 100% pass rate reflects on the teachers and the school and shows the effort that is being put forth by all, she said. Ellen Tracy, a current student, told of her positive experience in the practical nursing program at LTC-Shreveport/Bossier: After attending a local registered nursing program, I took a break and considered the LPN program here. This turned out to be the best decision I could have made. The instructors have been very helpful in helping me to obtain my goal to first be a practical nurse and then continue my education in the nursing

3 field. The learning environment at LTC is very conducive, and I have obtained the confidence I always sought. I particularly have enjoyed the hands-on approach of the clinical program followed by the theory classes in the afternoon. When I entered the clinical setting, I truly felt prepared and confident as a nursing student. Another student presently enrolled in the practical nursing program, Shannon Thomas, said, I have really enjoyed my experience and education at LTC- Shreveport/Bossier. I have grown so much professionally, as well as in my selfconfidence. The program at LTC has a wonderful curriculum. I especially like the way the medical surgical classes are taught by a variety of instructors. It is easier to retain the material that way. The instructors are student-friendly. I cannot say enough good things about the program; it will really help me as I further my career. I would definitely recommend this program to future students. Pam Williams, whose program at the LTC-Lafayette campus has enjoyed a 100% pass rate for several years, said, Students frequently come by to tell us of their continued success stories out in the field often to let us know that they have gone on to become a RN. Nursing classes from a number of other colleges in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) also performed very well on the NCLEX-PN during the spring and summer. Delgado s Charity School of Nursing, which has had a long history of high passing rates, held its reputation with a pass rate for the class of May 2003 of 95.3%. In addition, Delgado s associate degree nursing program is ranked 4th in the nation, according to a Community College Week analysis of U.S. Department of Education

4 data, published June 23, This ranking is "out of 1,200 American community and technical colleges in the number of associate degrees conferred." LTC-Baton Rouge, whose pass rate on the exam has averaged 95% over the past 13 years, experienced a 100% pass rate for the academic year for two classes of practical nursing students, and 94% and 95% for two classes in Beverly Pacas of the LTC-Baton Rouge nursing program said, Students will be the first to tell you that this isn't an easy course, but once they are out in the field they are glad they came here. Our program prepares them to not only work in the field with confidence but, if they plan to go further in the nursing profession, it gives them a good foundation and they have better success. In addition to high passing rates on National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing, some LCTCS colleges are currently experiencing record enrollments in their practical nursing programs. In August 2003, LTC-Hammond enrolled the largest practical nursing class in its history, with 63 students. Since 1965, LTC-Hammond has graduated 673 practical nursing students with a 99% passing rate on the NCLEX-PN and 100% job placement. LTC-Florida Parishes in Greensburg, the first campus in the LTC to offer its nursing program through electronic learning, also has its largest class ever with forty students this fall. The campus was given permission by the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners to increase enrollment due to the nursing shortage in the areas that the campus serves, which includes St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Livingston, and East Feliciana parishes.

5 The practical nursing program at LTC-Florida Parishes also has a higher passing rate than the national average for the licensure examination. Current student Diana Vicknair said, I chose the Florida Parishes Campus because of good reports I had heard about the campus and about the present instructors. She also explained that several former students had recommended the campus to her and encouraged her to enroll into the present class. Even the youngest practical nursing programs in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System have made their mark. Although a new and relatively small class, fifteen of sixteen graduates in practical nursing at LTC-Bastrop Campus passed the NCLEX-PN this summer. Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe, yet another college in the LCTCS, is in the process of developing its nursing program, already approved by the Board of Regents but awaiting approval by the Louisiana Board of Nursing Education Committee before it can begin offering courses in fall The Louisiana Community and Technical College System comprises seven community colleges, two technical community colleges, and one technical college with forty campuses. For more information about these colleges, call (225) or visit ###