Of the 38 Licensed Practical Nurse programs in the state of North Carolina, Sampson Community College ranks number seven of best programs to enter.

North Carolina takes great pride in staying on top of cutting-edge nursing policy, education, and practice. To meet a growing demand for nurses, individuals can apply for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) license in the state by completing coursework and taking an exam or by endorsement. North Carolina is also part of the Nurse Licensure Compact which allows nurses from other NLC states to practice nursing in the state without additional licensure. By 2024, The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that LPN jobs will increase by 18 percent per year in North Carolina. Currently, the national average salary for an LPN is almost $43,000.

The NCLEX-PN exam is used by state boards of nursing around the country for testing proficiency and granting licensure. Many state boards of nursing use the combined NCLEX-PN exam pass rates for each school as one of the primary ways to approve or deny a school’s ability to provide practical and vocational nursing education. NCLEX-PN rates is one of the best ways to determine how well a school is preparing their students for a career in practical nursing. Rankings of the schools were determined using a complex ranking system including several factors.

SCC, which recently was ranked in the top 35 percent in the state among colleges offering Associate Degree Nursing programs, is proud to have the continuing success in a program that has had a rich history at SCC and in the area.

“The ranking of our LPN program as seventh in the state of North Carolina underscores the high quality of nursing instruction at Sampson Community College,” said Dr. Paul Hutchins, president of SCC. “The dedication and commitment to excellence by our nursing faculty prepares our nursing students to be outstanding healthcare providers.”

The nursing unit at Sampson Community College began as a Practical Nursing program in September of 1966 under the joint direction of Sampson County Memorial Hospital and Sampson Technical Institute (STI) in an old elementary school on Highway 421, six miles north of Clinton, which served as the STI campus.

In 1976, the campus was relocated to its present location in Clinton. The school’s first Practical Nursing (PN) class was composed of 10 graduates. The program was changed to an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program in July of 1972 when Sampson Technical Institute was awarded a National Institute of Health Grant of $108,000 for that purpose. Due to community needs, the PN program was re-instated in 1991 with the first class of 20 students graduating in 1992. The graduating class of 2016 was the 25th class to graduate since the program was reinstated in 1991.

The average NCLEX-PN pass rate for the past 25 years is 97.2 percent with a total of 627 graduates.

“The ranking is a testament to the dedication of the faculty to student success. Faculty go above and beyond to ensure students receive the necessary tools and strategies for success which is reflected in this recognition, pass rates and job placement for graduates,” says Wanda Capps, division chair of Heath Programs at SCC. “As a college, we would not be successful without the working relationships and impact the departments across the campus have in preparing the students for success as well. I am extremely proud of the faculty and the students for their hard work and commitment to succeed.”

LPN graduation at SCC is July 13.

For more information about the nursing program or others, call 910-592-8081 or visit www.sampsoncc.edu.

Nursing students practice their craft during a recent class at Sampson Community College.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_nursing.jpgNursing students practice their craft during a recent class at Sampson Community College.

By Dan Grubb

SCC