The University of Houston-Victoria’s first graduating class of family nurse practitioners have passed the national certification examination.

Eleven students in the UHV School of Nursing who earned their Master of Science in Nursing as part of the family nurse practitioner program in the spring have since passed one of the national certification exams needed to become family nurse practitioners.

Kathryn Tart

“They’re all excellent students, and we’re excited about their future and how they’re providing more access to health care in their communities,” said Kathryn Tart, dean of the UHV School of Nursing. “We’re glad that these students earned a 100 percent pass rate, which shows the excellence of the school and the individual students. The support from practice partners and donors were critical to the success of this first class.”

The UHV family nurse practitioner master’s program started in fall 2013.

One of the students in that first group was Kelly Randermann, who was the UHV School of Nursing’s spring 2015 outstanding graduate student and spring 2013 outstanding undergraduate. After working as a Registered Nurse for 28 years, she is a family nurse practitioner at Four Oaks Medical Clinic and Columbus Medical Clinic in Columbus.

Randermann took the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Credentialing exam, which she said has a more clinical focus than the other test option, the American Nurses Credentialing Center exam.

Kelly Randermann

In order to take either test, candidates must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution or be at the end of their degree program. After passing the test, practitioners must apply for their license from the Texas Board of Nursing.

Randermann received notice of her licensure on July 8 and started her first full-time position as a family nurse practitioner the next day.

“I came out of the UHV program very well prepared not only for the test, but for clinical practice,” Randermann said. “The clinical sessions and the professors were excellent, and I was ready for the test and a career.”

The success of the first class of students demonstrates the School of Nursing’s dedication to excellence in health care, Tart said. The school’s primary focus is on training quality health care providers.

“The school has a good formula, and it’s been nationally validated through this exam,” Tart said. “The best part is that patients will have even more access to quality health care providers in their communities.”

For Randermann, the school was the perfect place for her to continue her education and reach new heights in her nursing career. Her core classes and clinical studies helped her reach the milestone, and she is looking forward to many more years providing health care.

“During my clinical sessions, every provider told me school is a good foundation, but you never stop learning,” Randermann said. “Hopefully, I will have a long career in Columbus, and I know I will continue to learn.”

The UHV School of Nursing will transition to the University of Houston in fall 2015. The UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development will begin offering a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in fall 2016 or earlier.