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Big Bend Technical College reports 100% first-time NCLEX‑RN pass rate for inaugural LPN-to‑RN cohort
Summary
A Big Bend Technical College representative told the Taylor County School Board its new professional LPN-to-RN program is a 52‑week, 900‑hour bridge that so far has produced a 100% first-time NCLEX‑RN pass rate for students who have tested; the college said it plans to expand capacity.
A representative of Big Bend Technical College told the Taylor County School Board that the college’s new professional LPN‑to‑RN program is an accelerated, 52‑week bridge for licensed practical nurses and that graduates from the inaugural cohort who have tested so far have achieved a 100 percent first‑time pass rate on the NCLEX‑RN.
The program, the presenter said during the public‑comment portion of the meeting, is a sequenced, 900‑hour pathway designed for students who hold “a current, valid, and unencumbered licensed practical nursing … license … issued by the Florida Board of Nursing.” The presenter said, “Upon approval by the Florida Board of Nursing, our graduates are eligible to apply and test with their licensure as registered nurses.”
Why it matters: the board heard the item as part of public comments; an LPN‑to‑RN bridge can shorten the time LPNs take to become eligible for RN licensure and can affect local workforce supply for hospitals and clinics that hire RNs.
Program details provided at the meeting say the curriculum is a 900‑hour integrated sequence delivered in an accelerated hybrid format over 52 weeks and intended to meet state regulations and industry needs. The presenter noted the program uses stackable credentials — from nursing assistant to practical nurse to professional nurse — and emphasized clinical judgment training. She also said graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX‑RN “which is required to practice as a registered nurse.”
The presenter named graduates from the first cohort: Ashley Montgomery, RN; Madison Elliott, RN; Heather Comstock, RN; Joseph Gonzalez, RN; Destiny Walker, RN; Tony Finnese, RN; and Kenzie Wilson, RN. The presenter said three students from the cohort were still awaiting testing at the time of the meeting.
Board members asked whether the program will continue and whether the district’s students can move on to master’s or ARNP programs. The presenter said she expects the program to continue and expand “in the near future,” and that colleges may offer articulation to further nursing programs, citing College of Central Florida as an example of a college that has existing pathways. She also said current classroom limits are set at 12 students per instructor under state rules for the pilot year.
The presenter thanked faculty and clinical partners and asked the board to continue supporting Big Bend Technical College’s workforce programs.
The board’s comments later in the meeting recognized the program’s results; a board member noted the program’s 100 percent pass rate and thanked the college and staff for the inaugural cohort’s success.
The school board did not take a formal vote on the program during the meeting; the presentation occurred during public comment and informational updates.
