Photo Caption: Columbia State Community College nursing graduates light candles as they get ready to recite the nursing pledge in honor of Florence Nightingale and all those who have worked diligently to promote the nursing profession.
(COLUMBIA, Tenn. – May 23, 2019) - - - Columbia State Community College nursing faculty pinned46 new nursing graduates in front of family and friends during a traditional ceremony held May 3 in the Webster Athletic Center.
“Our graduates are well prepared to enter the nursing profession as compassionate and knowledgeable caregivers,” said Cheryl Smith, Columbia State nursing program director. “They are a diverse group that brings many life experiences from diverse areas of life. The faculty and nurse graduates worked hard to reach this milestone. As a result, the lives of these graduates, their families, their friends, and people in the community will benefit immensely.”
Columbia State nursing graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 450 hours of clinical instruction in order to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.
Next, graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination in order to earn licensure, which is required to practice as a registered nurse. The 2018Columbia State nursing students’ first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 100 percent, which surpasses the Tennessee rate of 92.2 percent and the national rate of 88.3 percent.
Nursing students are trained to provide direct patient care in various areas, including medical, surgical, pediatrics and more. After graduation, these nurses will work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools and home health care settings.
“Community members excitedly share stories about receiving exceptional care from Columbia State nursing graduates,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division and professor of radiologic technology. “This feedback is evidence of graduates living into the college’s commitment to changing lives through teaching, learning and service.”
The Columbia State nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education. It has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The program’s four-year average graduate job placement rate is 97.6 percent.
Columbia State’s nursing program has a competitive admission process with applicants admitted twice per year. For more information about applying to the program, contact Smith at (931) 540-2609 or csmith56@ColumbiaState.edu, or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.