Nursing program ranked tops in state

  POPLARVILLE – The associate degree nursing program at Pearl River Community College ranks highest in the state in an evaluation released this week by NurseJournal.org.
  The PRCC program is ranked third out of 1,189 in the eastern part of the United States. Only five other Mississippi nursing schools are ranked in the top 100.
  “This is a rather remarkable recognition for our nursing program,” said Dr. William Lewis, PRCC president. “It is quite an achievement for a community college program to be recognized at a higher ranking than any of our state university programs.”
  NurseJournal.org is a social community website exclusively for nurses and healthcare professionals with the mission to provide comprehensive educational resources for those interested in nursing careers.
  The organization evaluated schools in five categories – quality, affordability, convenience, satisfaction and value – with 130 as the highest possible score. PRCC’s program scored 107.69.
  “Being recognized as a top nursing school could not have come at a better time,” said Dr. Arlene Jones, PRCC director of nursing education. “The program has been in existence since 1965 and is celebrating its 50th year this fall. This acknowledgment just solidifies that the program is committed to excellence.”
  The quality category includes the pass rate on NCLEX  national licensing exam, institutional accreditation, program accreditation, degree offered and graduation rate; PRCC received 22.96 out of 30 points. Factors considered in affordability are tuition and fees, percentage of students receiving financial aid, percentage of tuition and fees received as aid, student loans and net price; PRCC scored  31.64 out of 35.
  Convenience components include distance education options, availability of weekend and/or evening classes, availability of online or hybrid courses; PRCC scored 20 of 25. The satisfaction category takes into account first- to second-year retention rate, overall rating and average rating on RateMyProfessor.com; PRCC scored 13.10 of 20. The value ranking compared highest salary to the net price; PRCC scored 20 of 20.
  “The mission of the PRCC program is to instruct students in the art and science of nursing, to prepare graduates for successful passage of the NCLEX-RN exam, and to provide students with the skills necessary to practice as entry-level registered nurses in diverse healthcare settings,” Jones said. “This esteemed award will be used as a guide for students considering nursing school for years to come.”
  Other Mississippi nursing schools ranked in the top 100 are Mississippi University for Women, 6; University of Mississippi Medical Center, 16; University of Southern Mississippi, 24; Northwest Mississippi Community College, 75; Mississippi College, 88.
  Pearl River offers the associate degree nursing program in Poplarville and practical nursing programs in Poplarville and at the Forrest County Center.
  For more information about PRCC’s associate degree or practical nursing programs, telephone 601 403-1016. The complete report can be seen at https://nursejournal.org/articles/americas-best-nursing-schools/

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.