Charlene Hale Passes Nursing State Boards

2012 Aug 3

Charlene Hale of Fieldale is among the first cohort of nursing students who took all of their nursing classes at Patrick Henry Community College's Rocky Mount site and passed the state boards with flying colors recently.

All 10 nursing students from the Rocky Mount site passed the state boards on their first attempt, and nine of 10 already have full-time jobs as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), according to PHCC nursing faculty Ashley Holt.

"It's obviously very important for them in their careers, but also important for the school," said Holt. "For students to be able to achieve a 100 percent pass rate was phenomenal."

LPNs are not eligible for employment until passing the state exam.

The students graduated from the PHCC program in December of 2011 after taking a combination of traditional and remote-learning classes at the Rocky Mount site. Nine of the students passed their state boards in early 2012, though one student waited until the late spring to take – and pass – the stringent exam.

Holt called the cohort of students "smart and extremely driven," noting she was "not surprised" that they did so well on the state boards.

Prospective students can register for classes through PHCC from Wednesday until Aug. 29, though classes will begin Aug. 22.

For more information, visit www.patrickhenry.edu.