KCC nursing program grads attain 100% pass rate

The most recent Kankakee Community College nursing program graduates have attained a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination.

All of KCC’s May 2023 and December 2023 Registered Nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN. All of KCC’s July 2023 Practical Nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN. The practical nursing program has one group of graduates each year, while registered nursing has two groups graduate each year.

“The students work very hard, and deserve recognition for their efforts to become professional nurses,” said Kellee Hayes, MSN, RN, CNE, director of nursing programs at KCC. “Our faculty also should be credited for delivering a curriculum that conveys important information to students so they can succeed on the exam and into their careers.”

Hayes noted that the college also bolstered its registered nursing program in 2015 by obtaining accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The practical nursing program became ACEN accredited in 2019.

At KCC, registered nursing graduates take the NCLEX-RN exam upon completion of the two-year associate degree program. Graduates of the one-year advanced certificate in practical nursing take the NCLEX-PN exam. In addition to graduating from an approved program, all nurses in the U.S. and Canada must pass the appropriate NCLEX exam to be licensed.

Across the nation, the pass rates for 2023 were 89% for the NCLEX-RN and 87% for the NCLEX-PN. In Illinois, the pass rates were 85% for the NCLEX-RN and 88% for the NCLEX-PN

KCC’s two-year registered nursing program has a competitive entry process, and accepts new students each fall and spring semester. It incorporates classroom lectures, clinical experiences and lab demonstrations. The program is designed to prepare students for work in hospital departments, as well as in long-term care, home care, business and industry, outpatient clinics, public agencies, and physicians’ offices.

KCC’s one-year practical nursing program has a competitive entry process, and accepts new students each fall semester. It incorporates classroom lectures, clinical experiences and lab demonstrations to prepare students to become practical nurses working in many health care settings.

For information about entry requirements, submit a request at healthcareers.kcc.edu, contact Hayes at khayes@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8828.