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The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN is the examination that all nursing school graduates must pass in order to work as registered nurses. Multiple steps must be completed before a nursing school graduate can enter the profession, including graduating from a recognized nursing program, meeting the specific requirements of the state board of nursing, and passing the NCLEX-RN. In 2018 more than 160,000 U.S.-educated nursing school graduates took the NCLEX-RN for the first time. Of those U.S.-educated graduates taking the NELEX-RN for the first time in 2018, 88.3% passed the examination.

Lisa Moses, MSN, RN, director of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at Southeast Health's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, has announced that 98.15% of the College's nursing graduates passed the examination on the first attempt in 2018, surpassing both the state and national pass rates. "We are very proud of our graduates' success in passing the NCLEX-RN," Moses said. She attributed the graduates' success to their dedication and hard work throughout the program and to the faculty and staff who taught and supported the graduates throughout their educational journey to become registered nurses.

Moses also noted the important role that the staff and leaders of SoutheastHEALTH and other regional healthcare providers play in educating the College's students. She said, "Without the cooperation and support of our clinical partners our College would not be able to sponsor a nursing education program." She added that a growing shortage of registered nurses in Missouri and other parts of the U.S. make it essential that nursing schools operate at full capacity and produce graduates who are work-ready. According to Moses, most of the College's nursing graduates had received offers of employment prior to graduation and some had more than one job offer.

Southeast Health's College of Nursing and Health Sciences sponsors an Associate of Applied Science program in nursing that can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Qualified licensed practical nurses and paramedics can complete the program in as little as 12 months of accelerated study. The College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for registered nurses who want to advance their education and careers. Both programs are fully accredited by national nursing accrediting organizations.