web1_Philip-Smith2-05182018.jpg

Pittston man sentenced for having sex with teen girl

web1_WBActc.jpg

Pittston Area director to head committee that runs WBA career center

<p>Turns out, Luzerne County is a pretty good place to learn to be a registered nurse. Graduates from programs at both Wilkes and Misericordia universities scored well above the national average and above the state average on a key test designed to measure entry-level competence in the nursing profession.</p><p>For those who took the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses for the first time between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018, the national pass rate was 87.56 percent. The state pass rate was a more impressive 92.84 percent. But Misericordia posted a 95 percent pass rate, and Wilkes had a rate of 95.12 percent.</p><p>Both schools had improved from the previous year when Misericordia had a 92.45 percent pass rate and Wilkes hit 91.67 percent. The University of Scranton had a pass rate of 94.94 for 2018, down from 95.77 the previous year.</p><p>Edging out the other two this year gave Wilkes bragging rights for Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.</p><p>&#8220;This achievement is a testament to the faculty and staff in the Passan School of Nursing and the leadership of dean Deborah Zbegner,&#8221; Wilkes provost and senior vice president Anne Skleder said in a media release. &#8220;Their dedication to our students is clearly illustrated in this latest success, reaffirming that Wilkes produces graduates who excel in their careers and make impactful changes in the health care industry.&#8221;</p><p>Both universities have seen their health care programs benefit from John Passan, a Wilkes-Barre native who parlayed a one-truck delivery operation into Valley Distributing and Storage Co. Wilkes named the nursing program after him in 2015 thanks to a generous donation, while Misericordia named its health and sciences building after Passan in 2011 for the same reason.</p><p>Both times Passan, a soft-spoken man with an infectious smile, said he contributed to the programs because he felt nursing is one of the most important parts of health services. &#8220;Doctors can give you medicine,&#8221; he said at the dedication of the Wilkes program, &#8220;nurses give the real care.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_passan01-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Passan </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_passan01-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Passan </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Local students beat state, national averages in nursing test