TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Nursing students graduating from The University of Alabama in May achieved a 100 percent passage rate on the national licensure exam for registered nurses, the test that qualifies them to practice.

The Alabama Board of Nursing recently notified UA’s Capstone College of Nursing that each of its 31 students who took the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses passed on their first attempt, said Dr. Donna Packa, associate dean for academic programs in the College. This marked the second time in three semesters UA students achieved a 100 percent passage rate, with students earning a 91.6 percent passage rate the other semester, Packa said.

“Our program is not designed just so the student can be successful on the exam, but we believe if we can provide the student with knowledge and skills, including a strong foundation in the sciences and humanities, the student will be successful,” Packa said.

The average annual passage rate on the exam for Oct. 2001-Sept. 2002 is 86.4 statewide and 86.3, nationally. For that same period, UA graduates passed at a 96.3 rate.

“It’s the work of the students and the faculty that has created an atmosphere where students can achieve the success they want to achieve,” Packa said. She cited the faculty’s willingness to constantly assess the students’ progress and to concentrate their efforts, accordingly.

Increased use of study groups by students, and several initiatives put in place by the College in recent years have likely positively impacted the passage rates, Packa said, including new student progress measurements and the use of a nationally standardized exit examination that all students must pass prior to graduating.

The 100 percent passage rate on the licensure examination -- commonly referred to as (NCLEX-RN) -- is an important measure for the College, its students and their parents, Packa said.

“It’s important,” Packa said, “for our students to be successful, but it’s also important for our program that our students be successful.”

Nationally, there has been a decline in the scores students are achieving on their licensure exam, Packa said. This is particularly troubling at a time when the nation faces a severe nursing shortage. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the United States will experience a 20 percent shortage in the number of nurses needed in the health care system by the year 2020. This translates into a shortage of more than 400,000 RNs nationwide.

The Capstone College of Nursing, founded in 1976, has more than 600 students and 28 faculty. Its graduate program for nurse case managers is one of the most innovative in the country. Partnerships with many of Alabama’s community colleges make obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing a realistic goal for registered nurses. The College supplies RNs and nurse case managers to many Alabama health care facilities and others throughout the United States. The College also runs a primary care clinic in rural Alabama to provide care for rural patients and rural learning experiences for students.