The state of Massachusetts will allow Milton-based Labouré College of Healthcare to remain operational under warning status after initially deciding to shut down the program at the private college.
In June, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing voted in favor of shutting down the program after its failure for enrolled students to achieve an 80 percent first-time pass rate of the NCLEX exam. A July 12 vote by the board allows the college to remain open if a corrective action plan is created.
After Labouré's appeal of the June decision, a spokesperson from the Massachusetts Department of Health told Becker's that "the withdrawal of approval was stayed until the board’s Oct. 11, 2023, meeting, when Labouré is expected to provide updates on efforts to correct regulatory deficiencies."
In the meantime, the program's admissions for fall have been restricted to 28 students as it will continue to be under warning status until further notice. While the college works to correct deficiencies, students who are currently enrolled and nearing completion of the program will be allowed to finish their degrees and take the NCLEX, the spokesperson shared.
Ahead of the Oct. 11 meeting with the board, there will also be an on-site survey conducted of the program in August for additional review.
"We are thrilled to announce that Labouré College of Healthcare has obtained Approval with Warning status for our Associate of Science in Nursing program as a result of our July 12th hearing with the Board of Registration in Nursing," the college said in a July 13 statement. "We look forward to working with BORN to provide an exceptional educational experience and the best program possible for our students."
If the program is unable to make corrective efforts in time, its 1,340 students will be forced to complete their degrees elsewhere.