Quarter 3 results surpass national success rate, up 11.4% from 2022

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — January 3, 2024 — Dutchess Community College’s Department of Nursing is pleased to report impressive results for first-time takers of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). The pass rates for DCC's 2023 graduating class were 93.55% in Quarter 3 and 94.44% YTD (Quarters 1-3). 

The first-time NCLEX pass rate is one of the most important measures of success for nursing programs in the U.S. Not only do DCC’s results represent a marked improvement from last year (the YTD pass rate at the end of Quarter 3 last year was 83%), but the numbers also exceeded nationwide totals reported by NCLEX (2023 pass rates for students enrolled in associate degree nursing programs were 90.8% in Quarter 3 and 87.74% YTD).

Nursing Department Chair Dr. Treesa Scaria said, “DCC nursing graduates consistently perform above the national and New York State NCLEX passing rate every year. The high achievement demonstrates the rigor and quality of the educational experience students receive, making our nursing program one of the best in the Hudson Valley region.” She added, “We were able to achieve this commendable outcome by providing a state-of-the-art nursing lab experience, exceptional clinical experience, tutoring services, NCLEX-compatible practice tests and exams.”

DCC President Dr. Peter Grant Jordan commented, “The NCLEX results reflect the hard work of our nursing students and the dedication of our nursing faculty. We are proud of the role DCC’s nursing program plays in fueling our healthcare system, contributing to the health and vibrancy of our region.”

A senior faculty member Assistant Professor of Nursing Nancy Moskowitz stated, “The results are even more significant as the NCLEX licensing exam has been modified to include even more complex test questions to prove the newly licensed are competent to practice as a registered nurse.”

Graduates of DCC’s nursing program are highly sought after by hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley, and most are employed within a year of graduation. Admission is open to students in New York State, and preference is given to residents of Dutchess and Putnam counties.

For more information about the nursing program, visit sunydutchess.edu/nursing or email Janette McCoy at janette.mccoy@sunydutchess.edu or Brianne Reznicek at brianne.reznicek@sunydutchess.edu. 

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Dutchess Community College established the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree program in 1960 to help meet the needs of the community by preparing well-educated, culturally competent entry-level nurses to the workforce. The nursing program supports Dutchess Community College's mission and strategic goals and serves to meet the needs of the students, employers, and the community. Dutchess Community College attracts a diverse student body, enjoys an outstanding reputation of excellence in teaching, a highly qualified and caring faculty, and technologically advanced facilities and equipment. The nursing program curriculum is consistent with contemporary practice and established professional nursing standards. The nursing program uses the nationally accepted Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) competencies as the foundation of the curriculum. DCC nursing program obtained re-accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in 2022 and this is an attestation to the DCC nursing program's ability to uphold professional standards in nursing education.

Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college that has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education with the lowest tuition in New York state. The College currently has four locations including its main campus in Poughkeepsie, DCC @ Fishkill, DCC @ HVR Airport, and DCC @ the Partnership. For more information visit www.sunydutchess.edu.