UT MARTIN NURSING CLASS ACHIEVES 100 PERCENT NCLEX PASS RATE
MARTIN, Tenn. – One hundred percent of nursing graduates from the University of Tennessee
at Martin’s 2017 class who took their National Council Licensing Examinations this year passed
as first-time test-takers. The NCLEX is a mandatory examination to receive licensure as a
registered nurse.
“I am extremely proud of all our graduates, and this year’s graduates are no exception,” said Dr.
Mary Radford, associate professor of nursing and department chair. “In addition to completing
our rigorous curriculum, which provides an exceptional foundation, they worked diligently to
prepare for the exam up until their test dates. On behalf of all the nursing faculty, we want to
extend our congratulations and we can’t wait to see what great things they do in the profession of
nursing.”
UT Martin has educated nurses for more than 40 years, and nursing graduates go on to hold
leadership positions in the health-care field and make a difference in the lives of their patients.
Students who leave UT Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree complete more than
900 clinical hours in hospitals and health-care facilities across the state and gain experience in
surgical, intensive care, maternity, pediatric, geriatric, mental health and emergency units,
among others. Classes are also provided on topics such as leadership skills and community-based
nursing in addition to clinical learning opportunities.
“Our nursing program being three years definitely was a benefit in order to be able to experience
more clinical hours,” said Courtney McCaleb, a member of the 2017 class. “Nursing school has
been one of the hardest things I’ve done in life, but one of the most rewarding as well.”
McCaleb, a Memphis native, is working in pediatric oncology as a registered nurse in the
intensive care unit at St. Jude Hospital in Memphis.
Colton Gramse, of Adamsville, earned his nursing degree through the UT Martin Parsons Center
and currently works as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Jackson-Madison County
General Hospital in Jackson.
“I sincerely loved my time in the program,” he said. “My instructors sincerely cared about my
desire to become a nurse and gave me every opportunity to succeed. I know that every part of the
program completely prepared me for my field of work.”
Students can earn a UT Martin nursing degree on the main campus in Martin and at the UT
Martin Parsons Center. The RN-BSN bridge program for currently licensed nurses is also
available online.
For more information on the UT Martin Department of Nursing, contact the department directly
at 731-881- 7131 or email Radford at marye@utm.edu.