THERE WAS pride and joy among members of BS Nursing Batch 2011 as they were honored in a testimonial program, Aug. 30, at the Teatro Iocandia. Not only are they one of the biggest batches in university history, they also now stand among the most successful as shown by the results of the July 2011 Nurse Licensure Examination.

With 250 of 274 examinees hurdling the said examination, MMSU, still number one in Region I, achieved a passing percentage of 91.24, a record unmatched in ten years. The national passing average stands at 48.01.

In 2001, MMSU achieved a passing percentage of 95 percent, but there were only 44 examinees at that time.

Of the 274 examinees this year, 250 were first timers while 24 were repeaters. Two hundred forty-three first timers (93.10%) and seven repeaters (53.85%) passed.

Prof. Leilanie S. Galutira, CHS dean, says the reasons for this achievement are “multi-factorial.” She credits the high passing percentage to the dedication of faculty members and students, the support of the administration, and the fine quality of the review center.

During the testimonial program, President Miriam E. Pascua congratulated the new health professionals-nurses, physical therapists, and pharmacists-for their successful performance. Admonishing the honorees to be of faithful service to God and country, and to remain undaunted amidst the challenges that await them in finding jobs, Dr. Pascua expressed confidence that the educational foundation they attained at MMSU will allow them to make a mark in the health sector, be it here or abroad.