CCC announces nursing-student exam, placement results

AUBURN — Cayuga Community College (CCC) announced the National Council Licensure Exam (or NCLEX) score of its 2013 nursing class. The most recent graduates of the school’s two-year associate-in-applied-science degree achieved a 100 percent pass rate for a third straight year, according to a news release from the college.

CCC’s 2013 class surpassed the state and national average pass rates by 22 points and 17 points, respectively. The school’s five-year pass rate is 98 percent.

The college says the placement percentage for the 2013 graduates is as follows: 88 percent were hired for nursing positions and 12 percent were accepted into a four-year bachelor’s degree nursing program for a final placement total of 100 percent.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the growth in registered-nursing positions to outpace the average by 19 percent with the addition of 526,800 new jobs (2012-2022). Strong starting salary figures add to the appeal of the profession, according to CCC. In the Syracuse area, the average entry-level salary for a registered nurse in 2012 was $42,590 annually, or $20.47 per hour (findthedata.com), the release noted.

“The job outlook and competitive compensation for registered nurses continue to bring us a deep pool of prospective students, and our program’s sustained success allows us to enroll the most promising candidates,” Linda Alfieri, professor and director of nursing, said.

CCC’s program, which currently enrolls 100 students, attracts a diverse group of individuals including recent high school graduates, “empty-nester” parents looking to re-enter the marketplace and displaced workers looking for a second career, according to the release.

While many students apply directly to the college’s associate in nursing program, others choose to begin their studies in non-credit health-care training certificate programs such as medical assisting, medical coding, pharmacy technician, or phlebotomy.