By Chrissy Alspaugh, The Republic
calspaugh@therepublic.com
Some nursing students at Ivy Tech Community College Columbus plan to form a student group, one of the students said, because they believe they are attending a substandard program.
The college's five-year-old associate of science in nursing program last year tied for the fourth-lowest percentage of students statewide passing the state licensing exam on their first try.
However, the ASN program's accreditation remains intact, and college officials said they are taking steps to bolster the curriculum.
Ivy Tech Columbus' Health Sciences Department, including the Licensed Practical Nursing program, is more than 15 years old, according to Randy Proffitt, executive director of marketing and communications.
Programs including the ASN, Paramedic Science and Surgical Technology have been added more recently.
Forum develops
Jessica Bussert, in her first semester admitted into the ASN program, said she organized a Yahoo! chat forum for her fellow nursing students, because she believes their classroom experience is "ineffective."
So far, 39 students have requested membership into the group.
In all, ASN is serving 245 students.
Bussert said she worries courses will insufficiently prepare her for the state licensing exam, National Council Licensure Examination.
"We're not asking for easier courses," she said. "We want to be the best nurses we can be, but we don't feel we have the tools to succeed."
Of Ivy Tech Columbus' ASN students taking the NCLEX for their first time last year, 63.4 percent passed. That pass rate tied for the fourth-lowest of 35 accredited programs in Indiana, according to data from Indiana State Board of Nursing.
In 2006 and 2007, the Columbus campus' pass rates were the state's third-lowest.
But during the program's first year, 2005, 80 percent of first-time test-takers passed the licensing exam, making it the ninth-lowest pass rate of the then 28 accredited programs.
Though scores have not yet been posted for 2009, the campus' pass rate from April to September averaged 70 percent, according to Proffitt.
Ivy Tech Columbus' more established Licensed Practical Nursing program has boasted licensing exam pass rates greater than 92 percent since 2003.
Accreditation intact
Stacie Barclay, case manager at Indiana State Board of Nursing, said the national average pass rate for first-time takers of the NCLEX is about 86 percent; Indiana usually averages about 1 percentage point higher.
Programs showing consecutive years of declining pass rates often are called to meet with the board, then possibly present information on their curriculum and eventually detail changes they plan to implement, she said.
If pass rates continue to decline, Barclay said programs can be placed on probation.
She said Columbus' program retains full accreditation and is in no danger of being placed on probation.
However, Proffitt said Ivy Tech Columbus is dissatisfied by the ASN program's pass rates.
"But it is still a relatively new program, and I don't think we'll have a truly objective assessment of where we are until the program has been open a few more years," he said.
Trying to boost students' licensing exam readiness, Proffitt said the program implemented a new curriculum beginning in its fourth year.
The program also discontinued an option for students to accelerate the traditionally 24-month ASN program into 18 months.
Finally, the campus also offers a two-credit NCLEX review course.
Listening to concerns
Bussert said the students investigating forming what they call a union believe their concerns have been insufficiently heard by the university.
"We think it will help the school hear our voice," she said.
However, Proffitt said the word "union" likely is being misused. Their channel is the same as any student group trying to form a club or organization recognized by Student Government Association.
The group must apply and be recognized and approved by SGA's Executive Board.
Rebecca Dobbins, who just completed her first semester in the ASN program, said she has experienced no problems with communication with instructors.
"Every program has things that could be improved, but I think those things have been addressed by the students and faculty at Ivy Tech," she said.
"Obviously, it's not a program that's failing. There are nurses who are graduating, who are getting their licenses, who are becoming successful thanks to the Ivy Tech Columbus campus."
Proffitt said Ivy Tech welcomes students to voice their concerns and has defined avenues by which they can do so.
"In the end, Ivy Tech is about serving students in the best way we can," he said. "If this student group is one way we can do that, we certainly welcome it."