Nursing Grads from Class of ’22 Excel on License Exam

Outstanding performance is a testament to SHU’s dedicated faculty and rigorous curriculum

Sacred Heart University is preparing excellent nurses to enter the workforce and make a difference in the world, and the ’22 graduates’ stellar performance on the national licensure exam proves it.

SHU’s Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) saw 97% of its 2022 graduates pass their National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN) test on their first try. The NCLEX-RN is a standardized exam that nursing candidates must pass to be licensed and enter the profession.

“We are so proud of the level of excellence this exceptionally high pass rate represents,” said Karen Daley, DHCON dean. “Our talented faculty and staff do their very best to ensure that our students achieve their dreams of becoming nurses by delivering curriculum at the highest level.”

The NCLEX-RN measures nursing graduates’ ability to provide safe, quality care to patients. It also confirms that these candidates can demonstrate critical thinking skills to make appropriate clinical judgments when caring for patients.

“A person cannot practice as a nurse without passing the NCLEX-RN, so it is important that nursing programs adequately prepare students to be successful on the exam as part of their nursing curriculum,” said Heather Ferrillo, assistant professor of nursing.

SHU’s first-time pass rate has remained consistently high since the pandemic, a period marked by declining NCLEX-RN scores across the country, according to several medical websites. SHU graduates’ exceptional performance reflects the University’s talented students and rigorous nursing curriculum.

The score affects the University’s ranking and reputation and helps interested students recognize the high quality of SHU’s nursing program. “This is one metric that prospective students often use to compare nursing schools, so it is essential that our scores reflect the quality of education they are receiving at SHU,” said Ferrillo.