The first cohort of graduates from University of the Pacific’s Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing program have excelled on their national licensure examination, earning a 100% first-time pass rate.

Graduates must pass the exam, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, before they can begin practicing as nurses.

All of Pacific’s graduates who have taken the exam since May passed on their first attempt. The national average pass rate for first-time test takers is 93%.

“It is exceptional to see our first cohort of graduates achieve such extraordinary success on their licensure exam,” said School of Health Sciences Dean Nicoleta Bugnariu. “This is truly a testament to the robust program our faculty have created, and to our students who are deeply committed to providing exceptional care.”

Faculty prepared students with concentrated studies in their final semester. Ann Stoltz, chair and program director of the nursing program, also credits their success with the many resources available to students. 

“We have very engaged faculty, great clinical placements and high expectations for our students,” Stoltz said. “We also have a tutoring program so if a student starts to fall behind, even if they’ve just started the program, we put them into tutoring.”

Tutoring is provided by peers at no cost to students. 

The nursing program, which is located on Pacific’s Sacramento Campus, will soon have additional learning and study spaces for students. In addition to their current facilities, the program is expanding into the newly renovated second floor of the Chan Family Health Education building located on 5th Avenue in Sacramento.

The new nursing space will include two additional labs with manikins, classrooms and study areas as well as a medication management system.

“The Pyxis MedStation is similar to what hospitals use, so students can start getting experience managing medications,” Stoltz said. “We also have an electronic health record system going in. Getting hands-on experience with these systems and tools will ensure that our students are well-equipped to care for patients from the moment they graduate.”

Pacific is also requesting permission from the California Board of Registered Nursing to expand its cohort sizes to 65 students. The program currently accepts 40 students per cohort, enrolling twice a year.

Pacific’s nursing program was launched in 2022 to help meet the nationwide nursing shortage, which was amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2019 report published in Sage Journals, gave each state a grade based on its projected shortage of registered nurses. California received an “F” for its projected shortages by the year 2030.

Pacific’s 24-month master’s program is uniquely designed for students with a bachelor’s in a non-nursing degree. Learn more about the nursing program and how to enroll.