Chatt State’s LPN program is reinstated

Chattanooga State Community College’s next class of future licensed practical nurses will begin in May, after the program received approval for reinstatement by the Tennessee Board of Nursing this week.

The Practical Nursing Program at Chattanooga State was suspended in February 2017, preventing it from enrolling new students, because not enough of the program’s students were passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for them to obtain their licenses. In 2017, 91 percent of students passed the exam, leading to the program’s reinstatement.

In 2016, only 78 percent of students passed the NCLEX exam on their first try. Programs are required to maintain a passing rate of at least 85 percent — every state board of nursing uses the exam to determine if a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice.

To improve students’ performance, the program implemented some changes, including how it helps students prepare for the exam, interim director Judy Kitson said.

“We made some changes in the curriculum, implemented a live review course which students were required to attend, and adopted stricter admission requirements,” she said.

Going forward, applicants to the program must not only be at least 18 years old and have graduated from high school, but they must have completed several prerequisite courses earning at least a “B,” including Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (with labs) and Medical Math/Dosage Calculation. Applicants must also have scored a 55 percent or more on the Test of Essential Academic Skills assessment.

The program also plans on enrolling fewer students in each cohort — 18 to 24, rather than as many as 40 students the program historically enrolled, according to Kitson. New cohorts will start each semester, in the fall, spring and summer.