Mesalands Community College’s nursing program graduates celebrate an impressive 100% success rate on the NCLEX.

Mesalands Community College (MCC) nursing students who graduated in December 2024 took their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a standardized test that aspiring nurses must pass to become licensed nurses. It is widely regarded as a rigorous examination as it serves as the final step for most students to practice nursing legally. This is why the college is proud to announce that all its recent nursing graduates passed the NCLEX, a testament to its ability to prepare students for a successful career in nursing.

This is good news for the college, but it is even better news for the country as it works to fight off a nurse shortage threatening to get worse in the years to come. These newly licensed MCC-trained nurses will now enter the workforce and provide much-needed help in this sector. The nursing program is a demanding field of study that requires highly qualified faculty and engaged students for a better chance of success.

Students interested in becoming nurses often must go through incredibly selective application processes and incur significant costs for their education. However, Mesalands Community College offers a simplified application process that still ensures the selection of qualified applicants but provides more chances for students of different academic levels. The college also offers one of the most affordable nursing programs in the country, further increasing access to nursing degrees in the underserved community of Tucumcari, NM.

Despite the lower cost, MCC still provides a high-quality education, as illustrated by the 100% pass rate. Shannon Fries, the Director of Nursing Education Program, mentioned that part of the success of the nursing school is thanks to the use of a “concept-based program” as opposed to the more traditional “body system method”. According to Ms. Fries, the concept-based method promotes critical thinking, allowing for a better understanding of course materials and an improved ability to apply knowledge to a variety of situations.

Thanks to its smaller class sizes, the nursing school can provide individual attention to students, ensuring that they all fully grasp the material. In the words of Shannon Fries, “All our students should be successful,” so the faculty team takes full advantage of the classroom environment to maximize student success. This spirit of engendering student success is true across degree programs at Mesalands Community College; all faculty and staff do everything in their power to help students reach their career goals.

Interested in becoming a nurse? Click on this link to learn more. The application deadline for the nursing program is May 31st.  Apply as soon as possible!