MUW Nursing Grads get Top Marks

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The excellent quality of Mississippi University for Women’s nursing program was reflected in test results from 30 master’s degree nurse practitioner graduates who recently took the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Exam.

The W had a 100 percent pass rate and scored above the national average. The W’s graduates overall average score was 598, compared to the national average of 583. The W also scored above the national average in the areas of assessment and planning.

Dr. Johnnie Sue Cooper Wijewardane, graduate nursing department chair, said, “The MSN program at The W has maintained near 100 percent family nurse practitioner certification rates throughout the history of the program. The hard work put in by students, faculty and clinical preceptors helps our program shine. Results like these are a great help as we continue to recruit the best and brightest nurses into the MSN program.

“These results also reinforce that we are including content that is consistent with national standards of care in our program.”

The purpose of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Program is to provide a valid and reliable program for entry-level nurse practitioners to recognize their education, knowledge and professional expertise. The Academy Certification Program provides a process for validation of an advanced practice nurse’s qualification and knowledge for practice as a nurse practitioner. The AANP exam is offered year round at testing centers throughout the nation.

The W’s graduate nursing program, established in 1975, was the first Master’s Nurse Practitioner Program in Mississippi and the only program until the late 1990s. A total of 945 individuals have completed The W’s graduate nursing program. Graduates of this program have assumed leadership roles in healthcare throughout the state, region and country and have received prestigious awards such as the National Pfizer Advanced Nurse Practitioner Award for exceptional contributions to health care.

The university’s College of Nursing offers four degree programs: the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN); and the new Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP).

For more information about The W’s nursing programs, please contact the Office of Admissions at (662) 329-7106 or visit the web at http://web3.muw.edu/nslp.