The
UNC Policy Manual
400.1.7
Adopted 09/12/24
Policy on the Performance of Nursing Education and
Preparation Programs
I.
Purpose: The University of North Carolina shall
track passing rates on the National Council Licensure Examination for
Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and ensure coordination with the North Carolina
Board of Nursing for any programs that fall below accepted standards.
II.
Definitions
A.
The North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON).
Created through legislation in 1903, NCBON’s mission is to protect the public
by regulating the practice of nursing. General Statutes, Article 9A, the
Nursing Practice Act,[1]
outlines the duties of NCBON, and Chapter 90-171.38 states, “The Board shall establish, revise, or
repeal standards for nursing programs. These standards shall specify program
requirements, curricula, faculty, students, facilities, resources,
administration, and describe the approval process. Any institution desiring to
establish a nursing program shall apply to the Board and submit satisfactory
evidence that it will meet the standards established by the Board. Those
standards shall be designed to ensure that graduates of those programs have the
education necessary to safely and competently practice nursing.”[2]
B.
The National Council Licensure Examination
(NCLEX). A nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United
States, Canada, and Australia. NCLEX for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) is
designed to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for the safe
and effective practice of nursing at the entry level.
III.
General
A.
NCBON
has established that nursing programs “shall maintain an NCLEX examination pass
rate that meets or exceeds 90 percent of the national pass rate for licensure
level on the first writing of licensure examination for calendar years ending
December 31.”[3] If
programs fail to meet that standard, the NCBON places the nursing program on
Approval with Warning status, and NCBON staff will conduct a focused review of
the program.
B.
The
Board of Governors’ standard on NCLEX-RN pass rates is intended to provide
earlier warning, interventions, and assistance to the constituent institutions’
nursing programs.
IV.
Procedures
A.
The
University of North Carolina System Office shall track the NCLEX-RN pass rates
of constituent institutions’ nursing programs at least annually.
B.
To
provide early warning of constituent university nursing programs that may be in
danger of not meeting NCBON standards, institutions are expected to maintain NCLEX-RN
examination pass rates that meet or exceed 95 percent of the national pass rate
for licensure level on the first writing of licensure examinations for calendar
years ending December 31.
C.
Institutions
that do not achieve 95 percent of the national pass rate for first-time writers
of the NCLEX-RN shall undergo an evaluation of their nursing programs.
1. The institution’s chancellor shall provide
a report to the president prior to the end of February following the reporting
of the previous year’s scores.
a.
The
report shall include an evaluation of the nursing program’s admissions
policies, faculty, curriculum, and licensure examination preparation policies
and procedures for their nursing students that may have led to the score(s).
b.
The
institution shall propose short- and long-term changes to address the issues
seen as contributing to not meeting the established pass rate, and the
University will coordinate with the institution and its nursing program to
address any issues found in the report.
2. The University shall monitor quarterly
NCLEX-RN scores and coordinate, as needed, with the institution to make
appropriate changes expected to improve student performance on the licensure
exam during the calendar year.
3. Institutions that do not achieve 95
percent of the national pass rate for first-time writers of the NCLEX-RN for
two consecutive years will undergo additional evaluation measures, as
determined by the President. The University may coordinate with the NCBON to
assist in a program review.
D.
The
University shall coordinate with the NCBON to assist and monitor any
constituent institution’s nursing program placed on Approval with Warning status
when that institution fails to meet NCBON standards.
E.
In the event a constituent institution’s
nursing program’s approval is removed by the NCBON, after any appeals and due
processes of the NCBON, the University shall initiate termination procedures
for the institution’s pre-licensure nursing programs.
V.
Other Matters
A.
Effective Date. The requirements of this policy
shall be effective on the date of adoption of this policy by the Board of
Governors.
B.
Relation to Federal and State Laws. The
foregoing policy as adopted by the Board of Governors is meant to supplement,
and does not purport to supplant or modify, those statutory enactments which
may govern or relate to the subject matter of this policy.
C.
This policy shall be implemented and applied
in accordance with such regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the
president.