Nursing Program Ranked First In State

MCDONALD COUNTY PROGRAM RECEIVES TOP HONORS

The McDonald County Crowder College's nursing program is receiving huge honors.

The program, recently ranked first in the state, beat out 55 other nursing schools in Missouri for that achievement. The program received a high total of 97.08 points, outranking all the other programs evaluated.

Registerednursing.org recently evaluated the 55 Missouri nursing schools, but only ranked 20 of them.

Officials with the website ranked nursing programs from across the United States. According to the website, officials want to provide detailed information so students can make informed decisions about the best-qualified nursing programs to attend.

Officials requested the previous five years of information available, then evaluated and analyzed current and historical NCLEX-RN pass rates. Pass rates represent the percentage of graduates who pass the exam. School pass rates were averaged and weighted by the recent occurrence of the exam.

Programs that were evaluated included schools that offer an associate's degree in nursing (ADN/ASN), a bachelor of science degree in nursing, or a direct-entry master of science degree in nursing.

Crowder College nursing director Sandra Reed Wilson said officials based their rankings by evaluating board testing criteria for all programs throughout the state.

The McDonald County program started out under the Neosho campus program umbrella but, when the program moved to the new Jane campus, the Missouri State Board of Nursing restructured the program under its separate program code with state approval to Crowder College - McDonald County.

"Since that time, this program has thrived," Wilson said. "We are very proud of the work of this group of students over the past few years."

Students also have worked hard to give back to the community, Wilson said. The students have supported the McDonald County community through donations to the local public school system, sponsoring and organizing a community Easter egg hunt and providing leadership throughout the school and the community, Wilson said.

National Student Nurse Association president Maegan Mooberry, who attends the McDonald County campus, said knowing that she is attending a school ranked so high gives her courage and confidence.

Nursing school is difficult and the school's honor "helps your nerves," she said.

Mooberry was recently recognized by the Missouri League for Nursing at the annual student convention in Osage Beach for her leadership to her peers and to her community.

She was one of 10 in the state nominated and given the award.

"It was very neat and humbling to be honored," Mooberry said. Twenty-two graduate nurses are expected to attend the pinning ceremony at 6 p.m., Friday, May 18, at the McDonald County campus. Graduation is set for Saturday, May 19.

Mooberry is one of those who will graduate in coming days. "I'm very, very excited," she said. "It's been a long two years."

Mooberry has already accepted a position and will begin after graduation. She will work as a registered nurse for Mercy Home Health.

General News on 05/03/2018