High NCLEX Pass Rates Reflect Supportive UTEP Nursing Program

UTEP College of Nursing Hospital Day

High NCLEX Pass Rates Reflect Supportive UTEP Nursing Program

By Julia Hettiger

UTEP Marketing and Communications

UTEP College of Nursing undergraduates can expect to have support with test preparation, academic coaching and more throughout their time at UTEP and after graduation. Through strategies designed by the college to promote success, retention and engagement, students are exposed to different resources to help them succeed not only during their time at UTEP but throughout their careers.

“How we define success and retention is through the ways we promote student engagement throughout every semester,” said Shalla Copeland, Ph.D, success and retention coordinator and clinical assistant professor with UTEP’s College of Nursing. “We want to make sure our students are successful all throughout school, their licensure exam, in their careers and across the board.”

A major initiative through the nursing program is providing support for students taking the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), an exam that all individuals hoping to work in the nursing profession must pass before officially launching their careers. As of 2024, the NCLEX pass rate for UTEP alumni is 96%, compared to the national average of 88%. No matter where students are in the nursing program, they have opportunities to prepare for this exam.

Within their student fees, UTEP nursing students are provided with access to ATI Testing, which is basically a platform that provides practice questions and exams to help nursing students prepare for the NCLEX.

“They provide us with 1,000, if not more, practice questions that go along with every subject we learn, including fundamentals, medical surgery, mental health and more,” said Savannah Morales, a seventh semester senior majoring in nursing. “So, that’s definitely a resource that has helped a lot.”

Seniors nearing their graduation have additional opportunities to prepare for the NCLEX.

“When our students are in their final semester, they take what we call a comprehensive predictor, which in essence predicts how they might do on the NCLEX,” Copeland said. “After they take that test, if they don’t hit a certain benchmark, they meet with me individually. We go through the results of their test, and we create an individualized remediation plan.”