x
  
  
Posted: 10/18/07

TAMIU Nursing Students Post 95% Pass on Exams

 

TAMIU Logo
 

Texas A&M International University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences' Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing graduates achieved a 95 percent first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN Exams.

“We have one of the highest pass rates in the A&M System and across Texas,” said Natalie Burkhalter, interim dean of the College.

She attributes the success to the faculty and the students working together to ensure their success through mentoring and tutoring and hard work.

“The faculty help the students, students help other students and the TAMIU administration support us,” Burkhalter said.

The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust, the Canseco Foundation, Laredo Women's City Club, and many other community partners support the School by providing additional funding for both the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Adding to the College's financial support are Laredo Medical Center, Doctors Hospital and Laredo Specialty Hospital. All three partners gave TAMIU a professorship that will fund a faculty member starting Jan. 1, 2008.

According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing, a contributing factor to the nursing shortage is restricting nursing program enrollments because of a shortage of nursing school faculty.

“There are more than 150 applicants for January 2008 slots. We are going to admit 60 students in the Spring semester and an additional 20 in the summer. I am working diligently in recruiting faculty to accommodate the increase in the number of students being admitted,” Burkhalter stated.

The students who are accepted into the program can look forward to resources that will help them succeed.

The University and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences assist the students in obtaining resources for financial aid, tutoring, placement exams, test-taking strategies, writing/grammar and math tutorial programs and other services that will enhance learning and prepare them for success.

“These tutorial strategies assist them in taking the nursing entrance test and other exams throughout the program. We do everything we possibly can to assist the students in achieving their goal,” Burkhalter said.

In addition, Burkhalter said the Laredo community scholarship donors and HRSA made it possible to award more than $75,000 in scholarships this Fall, not including Pell Grants. 

“There are multiple scholarship opportunities for nursing students. Students need to avail themselves of every scholarship opportunity by contacting the Office of Financial Aid for more information,” she added.

TAMIU nursing students can also look forward to a bright future career.

“A Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) makes you more marketable-it increases marketability in the nursing workforce. One hundred percent of our graduates find jobs. Nurses are not unemployed. All three of the local hospitals support the University by providing the clinical experiences for our students and we provide them with a pool of graduate nurses to work in their facilities,” Burkhalter said.

To perspective students considering a major in nursing, she offered insight.

“You have to want to be a nurse. If that's your goal, you'll be a nurse. It's never too late,” she said.

For more information, please contact Burkhalter at natalie@tamiu.edu or 326.2579 or visit offices in Dr. F.M. Canseco Hall, room 312.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu