USF again earns top Nursing pass rates in South Dakota, according to SD Board of Nursing Report
May 1, 2019
For the second straight year, a South Dakota Board of Nursing report ranks the University of Sioux Falls School of Nursing’s NCLEX pass rate as No. 1 among nursing programs in South Dakota. USF’s pass rate is an impressive 10% above the national average.
“We strive for the development of the whole person at USF, beyond just scores, but we’re proud of our scores as well,” said Dr. Jessica Cherenegar, director of the School of Nursing. “We are fortunate to have a dedicated faculty, advanced technology and access to some of the best clinical partners in the nation. This, combined with our Christian mission of servant leadership, result in men and women prepared to practice nursing,” she said.
The USF School of Nursing consistently maintains a 100% placement rate for undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing students—many of whom have job placement secured well before graduation.
“USF’s NCLEX scores and graduate outcomes speak to the high quality of our Nursing program,” said Dr. Joy Lind, Vice President for Academic Affairs at USF. “We are so proud of our Nursing students for achieving this success.”
Located in a city with two of the region’s leading healthcare providers, the USF School of Nursing capitalizes on the need to fill the tall demand for well-rounded nurses prepared to join the workforce.
The Nursing program’s partnerships within the community and across campus provide unique, beneficial experiences to its students.
Theatre and nursing, for example, don’t immediately seem to have interdisciplinary crossover, but this Wednesday, May 1, and Friday, May 3, the departments come together for the final two of six patient-caregiver simulations. USF theatre students take on serious roles as patients with full histories and medical issues, and it’s the job of USF nursing students to render the most appropriate care.
And just last month, USF hosted a poverty simulation for nursing, education and business students to help them understand the very real, day-to-day challenges of poverty.
“There’s a high demand for nurses in Sioux Falls, and we will continue striving to help meet that demand with well-rounded graduates who have a commitment to high standards and positive patient outcomes,” Dr. Cherenegar said.
About USF’s School of Nursing
USF established its School of Nursing in 2008, and today it offers three programs of study: An accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program sequenced over four semesters designed for students with a previously earned bachelor’s degree in an area other than nursing; a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and an online RN-to-BSN degree program.