Trinidad State’s nursing program in Alamosa was recently ranked number three out of 28 college nursing programs in Colorado according to registerednursing.org.

The ranking is based on student performance on the NCLEX Registered Nurse exam. NCLEX is the National Council Licensure Examination which is used by all state boards of nursing across the United States.

Nursing programs were assessed on several factors, which represent how well a program supports students towards licensure and beyond. We analyzed past and present first time NCLEX-RN “pass-rates” - weighted by year.

For this ranking, five years of NCLEX-RN test scores were weighted and averaged. The most recent test scores given more weight than those from five years ago. Using that average Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs scored 98.79 out of 100. Front Range Community College in Fort Collins had a 97.37 and Trinidad State’s Valley Campus in Alamosa scored 96.39. Only two rural colleges scored in the top ten.

“This is a credit to our hard-working faculty at our Valley Campus,” said Trinidad State Dean of Instruction LoriRae Hamilton. “Our students put in long hours applying nursing concepts and performing procedures which one day may mean the difference between life and death for a patient. We truly appreciate the support of the San Luis Valley healthcare facilities and the support of our alumni. To score 96 out of a hundred is truly impressive.” Hamilton oversees the nursing faculty at the Valley Campus.

Trinidad State will build on this strong program with an online RN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing program starting in August. For more information on any of the Trinidad State nursing programs please go to trinidadstate.edu/nursing or email lorirae.hamilton@trinidadstate.edu.