Millikin ranked No.1 in Illinois for Direct Entry MSN program
Millikin University's School of Nursing has been recognized among the top nursing programs in Illinois in Nursing Schools Almanac's 2021 rankings that were released on Nov. 15.
Nursing Schools Almanac listed Millikin No. 1 in its ranking of the Best Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs in Illinois, and No. 17 for the Best Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs in Illinois.
For its 2021 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice.
Nursing Schools Almanac used up to ten years of data to calculate each school's NCLEX pass rate among first-time test-takers and then ranked schools accordingly. In its website feature, Nursing Schools Almanac notes Millikin Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates scored an 88.2 percent first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade, while Direct Entry MSN graduates have achieved a 98 percent first-time pass rate.
"The Millikin University School of Nursing has a long history of excellence in nursing education and its reputation is reflected in the recognition received in these rankings," said Dr. Wendy Kooken, director of the Millikin School of Nursing. "The faculty and staff are to be commended for their commitment to providing quality programs that deliver on the promise of education to our students. Through our Performance Learning opportunities and partnerships with local healthcare providers, our graduates are prepared and highly sought after for either entry or advanced practice roles."
The Millikin School of Nursing offers two options for a Master of Science in Nursing degree: Nurse Educator and Master's Entry into Nursing Practice (MENP). The Nurse Educator program is 34 credit hours and includes hours of clinical practice. The Master's Entry into Nursing Practice program is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree and are interested in entering the nursing field. The option consists of an intensive, fast-paced curriculum delivered in the classroom and clinical and practical settings five days a week for 26 continuous months.
"The accelerated second-degree program is an exciting course of study that helps create a pipeline for more nurses. Because students graduate with a master's degree they are ready more quickly to achieve leadership positions and help with teaching needs in nursing at colleges and universities. We are proud of these hardworking students and the faculty that teach them in this exceptional program," said Dr. Kooken.
Millikin's BSN program also offers two options. The Traditional BSN Track is for students who wish to complete a baccalaureate nursing degree in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX exam. The online RN-BSN Track is for students who have graduated from an accredited associate degree or diploma school of nursing, who are already Registered Professional Nurses (RNs) and who wish to earn their baccalaureate nursing degree in order to advance their career opportunities.
Millikin School of Nursing
The Millikin University School of Nursing fosters the development of women and men in a community of life-long learners who are able to envision and shape the future of health care and compose a personal life of meaning and value. The framework for the nursing curricula at Millikin incorporates the School of Nursing mission, goals and outcomes under the core concepts of person, nursing, environment and health.
Nursing Schools Almanac
The mission of the Nursing Schools Almanac is to provide aspiring nurses a detailed, comprehensive and analytical resource for selecting their future nursing school. An integral part of this effort is the Almanac's annual rankings of the best nursing schools in the country.