Issue Date: 4/7/08
Palomar college nursing program best in state
Nursing program at Palomar, highest quality in California for past seven years
By Ashley Cain
For the past seven years, the Palomar College nursing program held the number one ranking in California, and one of the nursing department heads says the school has the faculty's no-nonsense attitude to thank for that success.
According to the Board of Registered Nurses, BRN, the Palomar nursing program has held the highest passing rates every year for the past seven years.
"I have been here for 14 years and we have run over 90 percent at least 11 of those 12 years," Judy Eckhart said, professor and chairperson of nursing education. In order for anyone to become a registered nurse, students must pass the National Council Licensure Examination. The exam is based on everything taught to the students in the two-year nursing program they enroll in.
"If somebody is not ready then we won't pass them and that is not always the same philosophy that other schools have," Eckhart said.
Eckhart said the faculty's commitment and blunt honesty with students plays a big role in the success of the nursing program, and the faculty members stress to all students that the program is very time consuming and requires a lot of hard work, time management, dedication, and organization.
The wait list for the nursing program is two years. To obtain a position on the wait list, the prospective students must take anatomy, physiology, micro, and intermediate algebra and must maintain a 2.5 GPA.
Once those courses have been completed and the student has at least a 2.0 GPA at Palomar College, they then begin entry into the program. Beginning this fall, the Test of Essential Academic Skills exam will be required for all students entering the nursing program.
"It's an out of state requirement, the TEAS exam is to help select individuals to check them on basic competency in English, reading, math and sciences," Eckhart said.
If a student fails there is only a two-month waiting period before they can take it again. There is no limit to the number of times a student can take the test and once the student passes they begin classes the following semester; however there is a one-year limit before losing a place on the wait list.
According to the Board of Registered Nurses, BRN, the Palomar nursing program has held the highest passing rates every year for the past seven years.
"I have been here for 14 years and we have run over 90 percent at least 11 of those 12 years," Judy Eckhart said, professor and chairperson of nursing education. In order for anyone to become a registered nurse, students must pass the National Council Licensure Examination. The exam is based on everything taught to the students in the two-year nursing program they enroll in.
"If somebody is not ready then we won't pass them and that is not always the same philosophy that other schools have," Eckhart said.
Eckhart said the faculty's commitment and blunt honesty with students plays a big role in the success of the nursing program, and the faculty members stress to all students that the program is very time consuming and requires a lot of hard work, time management, dedication, and organization.
The wait list for the nursing program is two years. To obtain a position on the wait list, the prospective students must take anatomy, physiology, micro, and intermediate algebra and must maintain a 2.5 GPA.
Once those courses have been completed and the student has at least a 2.0 GPA at Palomar College, they then begin entry into the program. Beginning this fall, the Test of Essential Academic Skills exam will be required for all students entering the nursing program.
"It's an out of state requirement, the TEAS exam is to help select individuals to check them on basic competency in English, reading, math and sciences," Eckhart said.
If a student fails there is only a two-month waiting period before they can take it again. There is no limit to the number of times a student can take the test and once the student passes they begin classes the following semester; however there is a one-year limit before losing a place on the wait list.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Hartigan Giampaolo
posted 4/20/09 @ 12:15 AM PST
Indeed an informative article.
Yingling Polaski
posted 6/21/09 @ 12:36 PM PST
Wait for next writes!
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