A national nursing advocacy organization has ranked the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing Registered Nurse program as the best in Tennessee for 2023.
In its announcement, RegisteredNursing.org said it assessed nursing programs on several factors representing how well programs support students toward licensure and beyond.
“We analyzed past and present first-time NCLEX-RN ‘pass-rates,’ weighted by year,” according to the organization. “Congratulations to your entire team on this outstanding accomplishment.”
NCLEX, which stands for National Council Licensure Examination, refers to standardized tests nurses must pass to become a registered nurse (RN).
In compiling its rankings of the top 20 nursing schools in Tennessee, the organization reviewed the state’s 47 RN programs that offer the following degrees: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Associate of Science (ASN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
The UTC School of Nursing scored 97.92 out of 100.
“Please join me in congratulating the undergraduate faculty and advisors who work tirelessly to prepare the students who are in our BSN program as they join the nursing workforce as ‘practice ready’ registered nurses,” said Chris Smith, director of the UTC School of Nursing and the University’s Chief Health Affairs Officer.
“This ranking is important as it reflects the efforts of faculty and students who were enrolled in an extremely rigorous program during the COVID pandemic.
To have such success in an environment which tried to limit clinical and instructional experiences is a testament to the dedication of the faculty and students.”