The Texas Board of Nursing convened on April 18, 2024, to discuss critical updates regarding nursing education programs, particularly focusing on the approval status of Tarleton State University’s baccalaureate degree nursing education program. The meeting highlighted concerns over the program's NCLEX RN examination pass rates and compliance with state regulations.

During the session, board members reviewed the current statistics, noting that Tarleton State University had 96 students preparing for the NCLEX exam, with a significant increase in pass rates from 54% in 2022 to 74.7% in 2023, and a promising 96.3% for the first part of 2024. Despite this progress, the board decided to change the program's approval status from "full approval with warning" to "conditional approval." This decision was made due to ongoing concerns about compliance with Rule 2.15 and the need to ensure that current students are adequately prepared for the licensing exam.

Board member Rick Williams raised questions about the effectiveness of the university's preparation methods, which include a dedicated board prep time where students focus solely on exam strategies and practice questions. The university has engaged third-party vendors to enhance student readiness, which appears to be yielding positive results.

The board's decision to impose conditional approval means that Tarleton State University cannot admit new students into the nursing program until further notice. Current students will need to demonstrate continued success in their upcoming exams to potentially restore full approval status. The board emphasized the importance of protecting both the public and the students, ensuring that the program maintains high educational standards.

The meeting concluded with a call for further evaluation of the program's progress, with the board expressing hope that improvements will allow for the resumption of student admissions in the future. A brief recess was taken before moving on to the next agenda item regarding employee engagement survey results.