Our SBVC Nursing Program Has Excellent Exam Pass and Completion Rates

By Ana Saracho Castanon

San Bernardino Valley College’s Nursing Program continues to stand out in California with high completion rates and strong performance on the national licensing exam. The program admits about 60 students each semester, and demand remains high as hundreds of students apply each year.

According to SBVC’s completion data, recent classes have achieved graduation rates of 80 to 92 percent for traditional Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students. For the LVN-to-RN transition track, completion rates have been even higher, with several groups reaching 100 percent. The program is overseen by Yolanda Simental, Associate Dean of Health Science who helped guide SBVC’s success in preparing future nurses.

The program also prepares students well for the NCLEX exam, which every nursing graduate must pass to become licensed. State records show that SBVC’s NCLEX pass rate was 100 percent for 2023–2024, a jump from previous years where rates were in the high 80s and 90s.

SBVC provides support services, counseling consultations, and information meetings to help students achieve their goals. Students are able to arrange prerequisites and application consultations with counselors like Nicole Jimenez, Athena Corrales, and Maritza Robles at the regular nursing information sessions.

In California and around the United States, there is an increasing need for nurses. Through 2032, the Bureau of Labor Statistics believes that there will be close to 200,000 nursing job opportunities annually nationwide. SBVC grads are being highly looked after by local hospitals throughout the Inland Empire.

Resources for students interested in nursing:

•  SBVC Nursing Department website for completion rates, deadlines, and information meetings.

•  Nursing counselors (HLS 101 and online) for prerequisite and application planning

•  Career Center for job placement support after graduation.

• SBVC Nursing Instagram Page (@sbvcnursing) for program updates, photos, and student highlights