Midland College nursing programs achieve outstanding national exam pass rates
In addition, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program students earned an impressive 98.49% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, significantly exceeding the national average of 90.63% and the Texas state average of 91.15% (2023). The NCLEX is the national standardized exam required for nursing licensure, ensuring that graduates are fully prepared to enter professional practice.
"These outstanding results reflect the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, administration, and — most importantly — our students," Cindy Madewell, Dean of Health Sciences at Midland College said in a news release. "We are incredibly proud of their achievements and their commitment to providing top-quality health care."
Midland College's nursing programs continue to prepare students for success in the ever-evolving health care field. With a strong emphasis on hands-on training, academic excellence, and real-world experience, MC graduates are well-equipped to serve their communities with skill and compassion.
Midland College is committed to being a place where graduates' exceptional training reflects real world competencies; where programs and facilities respond to changing employer needs and student demand; and where instruction is delivered by highly skilled faculty, enveloped by cutting edge technology, and supported by effective industry advisory committees.
"At Midland College, we take pride in shaping the future of health care for the Permian Basin and beyond," said Michael Dixon, Provost of Midland College. "These results reaffirm our mission to provide top-tier programs and ensure our graduates are prepared to excel in their careers."
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Medscape
13-08-2025
- Medscape
A Nurse in Every School?
As a school nurse, Traci Jones, RN, PhD, NCSN, handed out ice packs and bandages, but she also helped students manage chronic health conditions ranging from diabetes and asthma to seizure disorders and life-threatening allergies. 'There can't be an expectation that the teachers know how to identify healthcare issues,' said Jones, a school nurse administrator in Temple Hills, Maryland. '[There should be] a nurse in every school.' School nurses oversee case management, assist with individualized education plans for students with disabilities; implement public health strategies for immunizations, natural disasters, and school violence; and connect families with community health resources. Despite the essential role that school nurses play in ensuring the safety and well-being of schoolchildren, a growing number of districts do not have enough nurses to meet student needs. Data from the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) found that just 65% of schools had access to a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or licensed vocational nurse. About Medscape Data Medscape continually surveys physicians and other medical professionals about key practice challenges and current issues, creating high-impact analyses. For example, the Medscape RN/LPN Job Market Report 2025 found that Both RNs and LPNs younger than 45 years were slightly more motivated to job search than older nurses. About 6 in 10 RNs and LPNs checked out a potential new job within the past 3 years. About 1 in 6 nurses don't think they have much negotiating power when it comes to getting a new job offer. Although 20 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, require K-12 schools to have a school nurse, students in other states often lack access to healthcare in school. Rural areas and districts in the Midwest and West employed the fewest number of school nurses, according to NASN. The Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act was recently reintroduced in an effort to increase healthcare access in education. The legislation aims to establish a federal grant program to help Title I schools where at least 20% of students are enrolled in free- or reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs to hire and retain school nurses. 'The NURSE Act recognizes the critical role of school nurses in providing students with access to quality healthcare so they can be healthy, safe, and ready to learn,' explained NASN president-elect Pat Endsley, PhD, RN, NCSN, FNASN. More Than Bandages and Ice Packs Injuries, illnesses, and disabilities lead to chronic school absences for almost 6% of school-aged children, and school nurses can help manage acute and chronic illnesses that are linked with poor attendance. In schools without a school nurse, 18% of students were sent home for illnesses or injuries compared with just 5% of students in schools with a school nurse. School nurses don't just affect absenteeism. Studies have found that students with access to school nurses experience better management of chronic conditions and improved academic outcomes, too. 'Sometimes we're just that place where students can come for some reassurance…Sometimes they just need 5 minutes to come in and decompress before going back to class,' Endsley said. 'We're a safe place [and] our goal is getting that student back to class and getting the most out of their education.' However, providing healthcare and safe spaces in schools comes at a cost. On average, the cost of having an LPN in a school nursing program was $115,707 per school year at a time when US schools are facing their biggest budget crunch in years. Funding for school nurses comes from a patchwork of sources, including the federal Department of Education, Medicaid, state health departments, and grants. The patchwork approach leads to disparities in resources between states and even among school districts. Cuts to Medicaid and uncertainty about the future of the Board of Education could also affect the number of nurses in schools today. The expiration of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic led to severe implications in school districts that included job cuts and loss of critical programming, including the loss of school nurses. 'Schools got COVID funds to hire a lot of school nurses, but…after those funds expired, not very many schools made those positions permanent,' said Endsley. 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CBS News
12-08-2025
- CBS News
Nurses at Anaheim hospital hold 1-day strike to voice concerns about employee turnover
Registered nurses at an Orange County hospital are holding a one-day strike on Tuesday, claiming that management has refused to address concerns related to high nurse turnover. The nursing staff at West Anaheim Medical Center said in a news release that it wants a new contract to improve conditions for safe patient care, provide ways to attract new nurses and retain them, and keep up on legal requirements on nurse-to-patient ratios. "Our emergency department is often completely full with a large lobby of patients waiting to be seen," said Liz Rivera, RN in the telemetry unit. "Having a strong, experienced, well-trained workforce in all units will make a huge difference in getting our patients timely and critical care throughout the hospital." Heather Foy, a nurse in the intensive care unit, said the hospital perpetually hires new graduates, who leave for other opportunities quickly after completing their training. "In my twelve years at WAMC, nurse retention has not been this dire. We are truly exhausted and need real solutions," she said. In a statement, WAMC said it has already implemented pay increases for nursing staff that went into effect last week, and its latest proposal in contract negotiations provides benefits it calls among the best in the nation. "We value our employees and their dedication to caring for our community, and in turn, we are committed to ensuring that our mission endures," the statement reads. "West Anaheim Medical Center continues to be a trusted source for healthcare in Orange County, receiving national patient safety and quality recognitions while providing vital care for its community, including A-grades in patient safety, health equity, community benefit, and clinical outcomes from the Lown Institute Hospitals Index. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated staff. We are committed to ensuring a workplace that honors their work and continues to provide lifesaving care." WAMC said the strike will not disrupt patient care. The nurses said negotiations have been ongoing since February and have included three days with a federal mediator. It's not yet clear when the sides will return to the bargaining table. Aerial footage on Tuesday morning showed a large group of nurses gathered outside of the hospital in solidarity. The nurses are expected to return to work on Wednesday.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Yahoo
I'm a School Nurse and Here Are the 3 Things Parents *Actually* Need to Worry About
Our kids spend most of their day at school, which means we're counting on teachers and staff—especially the school nurse—to look after their health and safety when we're not around. It's a huge responsibility and for it to be smooth sailing, some parental cooperation is required. So I spoke with a seasoned pro to find out: What should parents actually be worried about during the school year—and what can we stop stressing over? Her answers might surprise you. Meet the Expert Marie Murphy is a Registered Nurse (RN) in New York City, who has overseen the health and safety of faculty, children and special needs adults (ages 3 to 21) for over 35 years. But First, What Are Some Things Parents *Don't* Need to Worry About? Before we get into what deserves your attention, let's talk about what doesn't. According to the school nurse I spoke with, some of the most common reasons kids visit her office are no big deal—and definitely not cause for panic (or an early pickup). Take stomachaches, for example. Kids come in all the time saying their stomach hurts, Murphy explains. 'Sometimes there's just a lot of anxiety at school—there could be tests, there could be social situations, it could be playground related.' Whatever the reason, it almost always passes with just a brief reset, a sip of water and some light conversation. The same goes for minor playground scrapes: they happen, they get cleaned up and that's usually about it. There's no need for a phone call unless there's a facial injury, in which case the nurse told me she will notify the parent. And When Parents Should Worry 1. If Your Child Fails an Eye, Hearing, or Scoliosis Screening If you get a note home about your child not passing a school screening, don't panic—but do follow up. 'The nurse's office is not an ophthalmologist's office, but if they're squinting just 50 feet away from my desk and they can't see a chart with animals and numbers and symbols, it could be something that really is impacting their learning,' Murphy explains, adding that the same goes for hearing tests which could indicate an ear infection (or something more serious) if a child performs poorly. Older kids are also screened for scoliosis, especially as they start hauling around heavy backpacks. Murphy emphasizes that these screenings are the first step in ensuring that your child's skeletal development doesn't take a hit in the long term. The takeaway? If you get a note sent home after a school screening, promptly seek follow-up care with a physician who can adequately monitor your child's growth and development going forward. 2. If You're Called to Pick Up After an Injury—or Returning Post-Injury School is generally a safe place, but injuries can't always be avoided. It's not super common, Murphy stresses, but if the nurse calls about an injury then parents should 'come and pick them up right away.' Serious injuries that require immediate medical attention are always dealt with by the school—an ambulance will pick the child up with a teacher to accompany them—but lesser injuries shouldn't wait till the end of the day. 'If a child has a broken finger or has a possible wrist fracture, it can be really uncomfortable, and the school nurse can only do so much,' she explains. Likewise, if your child was injured outside of school—say, a skiing accident over winter break— Murphy urges parents to get medical clearance before having the child return to school, so they can get the attention they need when they're not in your care. 'They could need crutches. They might need a cam walker. If their dominant arm is injured, they will need a scribe.' There things need to be arranged ahead of time, and the school can't help properly if they don't know what your kid needs. 3. If You Live in a State with Loose Vaccination Policies Recent reports have highlighted a resurgence of measles (and even some polio) outbreaks across the United States—specifically in areas with reduced vaccination rates. While states like New York have strict vaccination mandates for school enrollment, others allow for non-medical exemptions. If you're in one of those states, Murphy urges parents to follow medical guidance and stay up to date on their child's vaccines—not just for their sake, but to protect those who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions. 'People might think it's a little childhood illness, but there are actually so many kids who could end up in the hospital. There have been deaths from these diseases because of the pneumonia component that comes into play.' Bottom line: Getting your child vaccinated helps keep everyone in the classroom safer—especially the most vulnerable kids. When a Kid's Home Sick, Why Does It Always Fall to Mom to Handle It? Solve the daily Crossword
