All of this year’s 19 nursing graduates from Morningside College passed their board examination on the first try.

This is compared to last year’s state and national first-time pass rates of 86.2 percent and 87.9 percent, respectively.

Registered nurse candidates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) to show competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level nurse.

Morningside’s pass-rate is typically above average, with almost 93 percent of the 2011 graduates passing on the first try, said Mary Kovarna, professor and chair of nursing. She said graduates may repeat the exam, and Morningside’s eventual passing rate has stayed very near 100 percent for more than 15 years.

“We offer a nursing program with a strong liberal arts foundation that cultivates professional nurses who are able to think critically and assume diverse roles and responsibilities to improve the quality, safety and direction of nursing and health care,” she said. “The NCLEX is only the first step in their extensive career paths.”