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STC program helps foreign-prepared nurses pass NCLEX-RN

Monday, April 20th, 2009


Dores Jay-Pang hopes STC's Foreign-Prepared Nurses Project helps address the shortage of nurses in the Rio Grande Valley by helping nurses through the examination process.

Texas Border Business

The current shortage of nurses in the U.S. has created a dire need for qualified health care workers. But for many, the national certification process can often be a difficult barrier to overcome, especially for nurses prepared in other countries. A program at South Texas College is helping to reduce the demand for nurses in the border by preparing foreign-educated nurses to take the NCLEX-RN Exam, which tests the competence of candidates for licensure as registered nurses in the United States.

STC’s Foreign-Educated Nurses Project, which launched in 2008, was created to increase nursing certification opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing outside of the U.S. The project helps participants break down obstacles they face by addressing all nursing topics covered by the NCLEX-RN Examination Test Plan, including the newly required course in jurisprudence. The cost of the program starts at $1,500 per student and the next class begins May 14.

“U.S. standards for anyone working in the medical field are extremely intensive because we want to ensure patients get the best, most uniform care possible,” said Dores Jay-Pang, director of the STC’s Center of Excellence for Health Professions Development. “Unfortunately, while many foreign-prepared nurses receive excellent education and preparation in their countries of origin, some of their practices and standards are a bit different from the U.S.

“As a native of Colombia and a foreign-prepared nurse, I understand what they are going through. I, as well as my colleagues at STC, know that we must do what we can to help these very talented professionals get back into the workforce and that is what our program is all about. There is a real shortage of nurses in the Rio Grande Valley. There is no valid reason not to facilitate these nurses through the examination process to help reduce the regional shortage in the profession.”

The program curriculum includes classroom instruction, clinical practices, skills lab, study and NCLEX preparation skills, and many computer lab hours. As part of the program participants also have access to tutoring at the college.

Space in the program is limited to 15 participants. To register contact Jay-Pang at 956-872-3106 or djaypang@southtexascollege.edu.

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