Florida nursing school graduates ranked last in the nation for first-time pass rates on the national licensing exam in 2024.
- The state lags behind the national average in its pass rate for the 2024 National Council Licensure Examination for both registered nurses and practical nurses, according to the State of Nursing Education in Florida 2025 report.
However, the University of West Florida School of Nursing topped the state and national averages for 2024, with 97.67% of its graduates passing on their first attempt, beating the national average of 91.6% and the state average of 89.4%.
UWF graduates earned the second-highest percentage passage rate in the State University System of Florida. For the first two quarters, UWF School of Nursing graduates posted a 100% pass rate – 129 UWF nursing graduates earned their licenses last year.
- This is why Inweekly made the UWF Nursing School a “Winner” this week.
DIG DEEPER: “High student success rates don’t happen by chance — they are the result of hard work and educational excellence,” said Dr. David Bellar, dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. “We are proud to provide an education that equips students with the skills and confidence to excel in their careers and make a lasting impact in healthcare.”
The Usha Kundu, MD College of Health provides experiential learning opportunities for nursing students through several partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare organizations. Nursing students refine their clinical skills in state-of-the-art simulation labs at local Santa Rosa Medical Center and Ascension Sacred Heart facilities. These immersive experiences build students’ confidence, enhance critical thinking, and support the achievement of consistently high NCLEX pass rates.
“The success of our students is a testament to their dedication, the tireless efforts of our faculty, community support from local partnerships, and the strong leadership within the college,” said Renee Davis, who was recently hired as the new director for UWF’s School of Nursing. “Our faculty take pride in providing a rigorous and supportive learning environment that allows our students’ hard work and determination to shine. It’s their commitment that ultimately drives their success.”
WHY IT MATTERS: The need for skilled nurses is expected to increase over the next decade. The registered nursing shortage in Florida is projected to go from 11,500 to 37,400 RNs by 2035,based on data from the Florida Physician and Nursing Workforce report commissioned by the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida.
For more information about the UWF School of Nursing, visit uwf.edu/nursing.
Photo: Licensed under the Unsplash+ License
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