We were lucky to catch up with Rhonda Savain recently and have shared our conversation below.
Rhonda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear your thoughts about making remote work effective.
Our business used to be based in a building where we would have approximately 80-90 nursing students attend classes each month. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made having many students in one classroom challenging. To adapt, we started conducting live online classes. Our online classes are engaging and interactive, featuring case studies, fun games, and break-out rooms. Unfortunately, we have noticed a decline in nursing students attending our classes due to the pandemic. Many students instead purchase study materials containing questions and rationales to prepare for their exams. Practical remote work requires adjusting to a new environment, building trust, and maintaining strong communication channels. We have consistently fostered a sense of camaraderie and encourage regular collaboration among our students.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
At the ripe age of 17, I became a Licensed Practical Nurse. I graduated from Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, New York. High schools offered various trades at that time, such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), pre-medicine, cosmetology, and automotive. Next, I served as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy Reserves. Nursing has always been a passion of mine, and in 1999, I received my Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. After working several years as a Registered Nurse in a hospital, I started teaching nursing full-time at the same high school I graduated from. It was there my passion for mentoring was birthed. In 2020, I became a Certified Life Coach and started Decisions Life Coaching LLC. Currently, I co-own several businesses. However, today, the focus will be on Ready To Pass Inc.
Ready To Pass Inc. offers a 35-hour monthly nursing review course for Licensed Practical Nursing students and Registered Nursing students preparing to pass their state exam (NCLEX®). We were established in 2003 as a small solution to help ease the nursing shortage. We provide critical thinking skills and teach nursing students to employ clinical judgment interactively and engagingly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a projected shortage of over 200,000 Registered Nurses annually through 2031. Ready To Pass is unique because several test prep courses only offer online practice test questions and rationales. Our students can connect with a live instructor and classmates, which many prefer. In addition to our live classes, we offer pre-recorded courses and individual tutoring.
Many of our students have yet to be successful in passing their state exams before attending our class. For example, Natalie Fraser, RN, passed her NCLEX® exam on her third attempt with the help of Ready To Pass. Kadiann Reid, RN, passed her exam on her 6th attempt. These are just two of our many success stories.
In June 2023, we celebrated 20 years of successfully preparing nurses for state licensure. In addition, in September 2014, we opened another business, Transitions Career Institute, a school for Practical Nursing. The current pass rate is 96.1%. We are most proud that both enterprises are African-American and women-owned.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
I met my co-founder, Derrice Gordon, MSN, BSN, RN, FNP, while studying nursing in 1989. Little did we know then that we would start two businesses together. In 2003, we founded our first business, which offers test preparation services for nursing students. In 2014, we opened our nursing school. After receiving our bachelor’s degrees in nursing in 1991, we kept in touch mainly through phone calls on birthdays and holidays. But since 2003, we have been speaking almost daily.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Derrice and I have demonstrated immense resilience throughout our journey. We successfully navigated the challenges of marriage, raising children, and concurrently managing two businesses, all without external funding or assistance. As pioneers in our respective fields, we faced the inherent difficulties of forging uncharted paths and making decisions independently, learning through trial and error. The demands of running both businesses were further compounded when we both received a diagnosis of Breast Cancer. Despite enduring surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, we remained committed to working full-time between treatments. We are grateful and humbled to have overcome these health battles and continue our journey. Furthermore, when the Covid pandemic struck, we swiftly pivoted to offer online courses, ensuring the continuity of both businesses. As countless established enterprises shut their doors during that period, our ability to adapt and thrive is a testament to our resilience and determination.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.readytopass.com
- Instagram: @readytopassnclex
- Facebook: @nclexreadytopass
- Other: www.rhondasavain.com