(Keene, TX) The Nursing Department of Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) handed out about $8000 in cash rewards on Wednesday, March 20, to 13 recently graduated Registered Nurses for passing their National Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Dr. Kerrie Kimbrow, the Nursing Department chair, congratulated students on their accomplishments and expressed the department’s pride in their continued success.  

“We know you all worked very hard to make this happen,” said Kimbrow. “This just a small reward for the hours of effort you spent in realizing this goal. We couldn’t be prouder of our nursing students!” 

President Ana Patterson also had words of praise and encouragement for the new R.Ns, emphasizing the huge part their nursing educators in preparing them for NCLEX. “I know you all know that none of this would have been possible without your hard work and the hard work of your professors.” 

The cash reward for NCLEX is a tradition initiated by the Nursing department since 2022 as a means of incentivizing graduating R.Ns to take the exam as soon as possible. Candidates qualify for the $500 reward only if they pass the examination on their first attempt. Of those SWAU R.Ns who took the NCLEX, 97% passed on their first attempt, greater than the national average of 83%.  

About SWAU: Southwestern Adventist University is a private university in Keene, Texas, found in 1894. The school is dedicated to instructing its students in educational excellence, real-world service, and Christian values. 

###