The Florida Board of Nursing has lifted a two-plus year probation for the nursing program at Florida Gulf Coast University because more of its graduates are passing their nursing board exams on the first try.
During the third quarter of 2009, 89 percent of FGCU graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination, exceeding the national average of 86 percent. In April 2007, the state placed FGCU on probation because it repeatedly had sub-par passing rates, but FGCU put more money into the program while requiring students to complete additional laboratory hours. The national Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education also has granted FGCU the maximum 10-year full accreditation for its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing.
“With the investments made in simulation, additional nursing laboratories and faculty resources by FGCU and the dedicated work of the School of Nursing faculty, the FGCU Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is now very strong,” said Marianne Rodgers, nursing school director.
Marianne Rodgers
After landing on probation in 2007, FGCU outlined six strategies to help students pass their nursing board exams:
• Extra tutoring and workshops on test-taking skills.
• Reduced class sizes for clinical groups, from 10 to eight students.
• A new 1,200-square-foot on-campus laboratory.
• A dedicated computer lab in the library for nursing students.
• Two new human patient simulators for hands-on practice.
• The tripling of laboratory hours required in the program.
