TEXAS, USA — The 2023 graduating class pictured in this article are: top row (left to right): Tyler Vitek, Mark Rosenbaum, Parker Arrants, and Brandon Beck. Front row (left to right): Ramiro Gutierrez, Krysten Lerchbacker, Makayla Hallman, and Steven Shimerka. At the podium: Associate Degree Nursing Program Professor Jaime Hardy.
All of Blinn College's inaugural Paramedic-to-RN Program graduates passed their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) on the first attempt. This qualifies them for careers in a wide array of nursing positions, including pediatric, geriatric, hospice, school and clinical nursing.
The Texas Board of Nursing reports that the statewide pass rate in 2022 was 84.28% and the national pass rate was 79.91%.
Through a Monday press release, Director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, Karla Ross said, “I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our graduates for this outstanding accomplishment. This 100% first-attempt pass rate is a historic achievement for our Paramedic-to-RN Program and sets a high standard for future classes. I am confident that this success will inspire and motivate future students to strive for excellence and continue to raise the bar for nursing education at Blinn.”
Graduate Brandon Beck, through the same release, said, “I cannot say enough about the experience I had during my time in school. I second-guessed myself every step of the way, but every time the instructors were there to show me how far I had come and how much I had learned. I had such a great time that I actually miss going to class.”
The 60-credit-hour paramedic-to-RN transition pathway is an accelerated program that allows paramedics to build upon their extensive medical training and experience to earn their nursing degree.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2022 median salary for paramedics was $49,090 per year while registered nurses earned a median salary of $81,220.
At the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex, Blinn ADN students gain hands-on skills utilizing the facility’s 16,000-square-foot simulation laboratories. Blinn’s Associate Degree Nursing Program has been recognized as one of the top programs in the state by NursingProcess.org, RNCareers.org, and RegisterNursing.org
For more information regarding the Paramedic-to-RN Transition Program, visit www.blinn.edu/adn/paramedic-to-rn. A link to register for upcoming information sessions on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Jan. 30, are available on the website.
