In 2024, graduates from the Associate of Science in Nurse Education program and the Practical Nursing Certificate program achieved close to a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a nationally recognized exam required to become a registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN).
“Our faculty members are incredibly dedicated and continually align course learning outcomes with the resources we provide, ensuring that students benefit from all available supports,” said Pat Schmohl, dean of the School of Healthcare.
QCC alum Pamela Lara, who passed the NCLEX last year and gained employment as an RN at UMass Memorial Health, already had a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field but was looking for more fulfillment as well as flexibility after having children. Like Schmohl, Lara recognized faculty for the vital support they offered.
“I encourage people to look at QCC. They have been extra helpful and everyone works together. I never felt like I was in a real group in any other college environment,” said Lara, adding, “There was constant communication and they held us accountable.”
Chair of the Practical Nursing Program Margaret Yoder praised QCC’s faculty for their investment in the students. She also noted that professors’ lived experiences and backgrounds can create an inclusive setting that enhances learning.
“Our faculty are multicultural and their diversity is reflective of our student population. We have students from different countries, cultures and various socio-economic statuses, as well as single parents and many English language learners,” said Yoder.
Of the 80 Practical Nursing graduates who took the NCLEX in 2024, 97.5% passed. Of the 132 graduates from the ADN program, 97% passed the NCLEX.
“These are highly motivated students who are actively seeking to improve their lives by entering this profession,” said Chair of Nurse Education Patricia Creelman. “Additionally, the clinical agency partners who collaborate with the program provide comprehensive clinical learning opportunities for students at all levels of our educational program.”
Creelman noted that QCC’s up-to-date educational equipment and individualized student support helped contribute to students’ academic and licensure achievements.
“All of the additional services offered through the college including the food pantry, social service referrals, tutoring and counseling are very important to the students’ success,” said Yoder.
Graduates who become LPNs can now work in settings such as nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, mental health facilities, as well as in-home care and some hospitals. Graduates who become RNs can work in many of the same facilities however, they are more frequently hired into hospital settings.
There is still a shortage of nurses in Massachusetts, Yoder continued.
“Understaffing and burnout have caused undo stress on the nurses, causing them to exit the workforce or seek jobs in different areas of healthcare, “she said, adding that it’s critical to support these students who are vital to the state’s healthcare system."