CENTRALIA — The Kaskaskia College Nursing Program has announced it is among the top schools in Illinois for NCLEX [in-klex] pass rates among first-time test takers.

The NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination, is the test given to all nursing program graduates throughout the United States to measure a graduate’s ability and competence needed to become a licensed nurse.

According to Julie Obermark, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences “Both the LPN and RN programs 2018 annual pass rate are excellent and far exceed state and national averages. ”

The 2018 Kaskaskia College Practical Nursing program pass rate is 100 percent — much higher than the state average of 89 percent or national average of 86 percent.

The Registered Nursing program pass rate is 97 percent compared to both state and national average of 88 percent.

Obermark gives the credit to the nursing faculty who she says do an amazing job of preparing students for the NCLEX and careers in Nursing.