Improving Program NCLEX Pass Rates: Strategies from One State Board of Nursing.

Aim: This article describes the response of the Illinois Board of Nursing to an escalating number of prelicensure nursing programs with low National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates. The response aligns with stipulations of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act and best practices.

Background: NCLEX success is crucial to launching the careers of nursing graduates and to maintaining approval status of prelicensure programs by state regulatory bodies.