WALTERBORO, S.C. For the sixth straight year, 100% of graduates from the USC Salkehatchie-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing program passed the NCLEX on their first attempt, well above the national first-time pass rate of 88.09%. The NCLEX exam is a standardized test used to determine state licensure.
“Completing a rigorous nursing program is no easy task, yet these students successfully did so during a historical pandemic. They are resilient, dedicated, and persistent, and I have no doubt they will provide exceptional nursing care in and around the Salkehatchie region,” Dr. April Cone, Nursing Academic Program Manager said. “Growing our own nurses is our mission, and I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to be involved in helping to meet that mission. To say I am proud of these students is an understatement.”
USC Salkehatchie, in partnership with USC Beaufort, provides up to 16 students per year the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while remaining on the Salkehatchie campus. The undergraduate curriculum combines professional education in nursing with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. Introductory nursing courses focus on the history of the nursing profession, nursing math, medical terminology, nutrition, and much more. During upper division, students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for complex health problems of individuals, families, and communities. Clinical practice is supported by concurrent classroom study and lab activities performed in the high-fidelity simulation lab housed on the Walterboro campus. Simulation prepares our students to provide exceptional health care by allowing repetitive practice without direct risk to patient safety and by giving students an opportunity to work in groups, enhancing teamwork, collaboration and communication.
The program, which originated in 2006, has an 99% overall pass rate for all cohorts. For more information about USC Salkehatchie’s nursing program or other available degrees, visit uscsalkehatchie.sc.edu.