May 2026 Graduates of JWU’s Nursing Program Achieve 100 Percent NCLEX Test Pass Rate
Story by JWU Media Relations, on Jul 30, 2026 9:00 AM
PRESS RELEASE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — July 30, 2026 – Johnson & Wales University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offered at both Charlotte, NC and Providence, RI campuses, is celebrating the success of their most recent cohorts, who achieved a 100 percent first time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after graduating in May. The NCLEX-RN is the national licensure examination required to enter professional nursing practice.
“We are proud of what this accomplishment represents for our students and faculty,” said College of Health & Wellness Dean Maura Daly Iversen, PT, DPT, SD, MPH. “It reflects the quality of a program that combines rigorous academics with extensive clinical and simulation experiences, helping prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare organizations.”
Johnson & Wales University received approval for its nursing program in October 2022 from the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration & Nursing Education and in May 2023 from the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Since then, 48 students have completed the program, all of whom are now licensed nurses. Additional students are set to graduate from JWU Charlotte this summer with another cohort beginning in August on each campus.
“Our program is uniquely designed to help meet the growing demand for nurses while providing the flexibility many professionals pursuing a new career path need,” said Kiley Medeiros, Ph.D., RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Administrator overseeing JWU’s ABSN program. “With three start dates each year, a 16-month curriculum and a four-day class schedule, students can prepare to enter the workforce more quickly than a traditional 4-year undergraduate degree. They also benefit from small cohorts, direct access to experienced faculty, hands-on simulation training and tailored clinical experiences designed to support their individual career goals.”
The accelerated, four-semester program is intended to be a secondary degree program for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about the program. The JWU ABSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
About JWU
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina, and through JWU Online. An innovative educational leader, the university offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business and hospitality, dietetics and nutrition, food innovation and technology, and health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. JWU’s unique model provides students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 130 countries pursuing careers worldwide.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jill Smith, Director of Communications and Media Relations, Charlotte Campus (C) 704-340-3273
Rachel Nunes, Senior Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Providence Campus [o]401-598-2752 [c]401-895-7364