Illinois Wesleyan University's nursing program has rebounded in a big way.
A year ago the state put the program on probation for a low pass rate for its graduates on the national licensing exam (NCLEX). New program head Amber Kujath said in her first year overseeing the degree offering at IWU the pass rate rose from 63% to 83%. The minimum rate for a program in good standing is 75%. Program accreditation does not enter probation until two consecutive years below that mark.
Kujath said the scores of most nursing programs declined during the pandemic. She said IWU pass rates improved more than other bachelor programs in Illinois that had seen their averages drop.
“Even more exciting is that our 2023 grads who I've had the most impact on, if you will, because I've only been here a year, are right at the state average of 85%. And I know that that's just the beginning. Now that we've done some intense work with our students, we're expecting bigger and better things,” said Kujath.
Kujath said the university changed the curriculum to place more emphasis on what's called the "clinical judgment model," which focuses on how to make decisions. She said this is not teaching to the test.
“We're not saying you only want to practice this type of question. We want to talk about what evidence do you need to make your next decision? Is this question asking you for an assessment? Is this question asking you for an intervention? Or is this question asking you to evaluate something that's already happened, which is exactly what practice is like. We're teaching to the practice of nursing,” said Kujath.
IWU has made other changes too.
Kujath said her personal career goal is to have a 100% pass rate in a year, something that is rare in Illinois. Just three of 35 baccalaureate nursing programs in Illinois had all their students pass the exam last year.
There are also numerous nursing programs for associate degrees, hospital degree programs, and licensed practical nurse (LPN) programs. Heartland Community College in Normal had a 97% pass rate in its associate degree program last year and a 100% pass rate in its LPN offering. Illinois Central College pass rates were 93% in its ADN program and 92% in its LPN track.
Not every program that had lowered test scores during and following the pandemic remote learning period got into a danger zone where certification became something at risk. Kujath said those factors may have affected IWU more than others.
“Illinois Wesleyan is a high-touch program. We pride ourselves on being in-person with our students. Our class sizes are small. Our physical classroom size is small. If you think about moving to larger lecture halls, wearing masks, and not being able to meet with students in our offices, that has an impact. It's just not really our personality and our culture. While I wasn't at Illinois Wesleyan (then), I have to believe that switch to online and distance was just not in our core,” said Kujath.
Usually, it takes two years of adequate scores to be removed from the probation list. Kujath said lawmakers took that into account and passed legislation allowing for a one-year restoration to good standing. She said IWU was neutral on that bill.
“We did feel that we had an obligation to do what we needed to do and be on probation. We have implemented all of these measures. The school has provided many resources. Donors have provided resources. And while the bill says we're not on probation, we're treating ourselves like we're on probation. We are very focused on our student success,” said Kujath.
