Columbia State Community College nursing faculty recently pinned 41 new nursing graduates during a live-streamed ceremony.

“These nursing graduates have shown amazing resilience and perseverance during this pandemic,” said Amy Huff, Columbia State nursing program director. “They have gained the knowledge and skills required to provide safe, competent, and compassionate patient care but also the flexibility and innovation needed to function in today’s healthcare environment. The faculty and graduates are to be commended for their dedication to the profession and for helping to ensure the nursing needs of the community will be met.”

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 2020Columbia State nursing students’ first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 99%, which surpasses the Tennessee rate of 91.6and the national rate of 86.5%.

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.

“The COVID-19 pandemic forced some changes in how content is delivered and where students learn but faculty members and the May 2021 nursing graduates stepped up to the challenge to continue the program's tradition of excellence,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division and professor of radiologic technology. “These future registered nurses are exceptionally well-prepared to join the healthcare workforce and immediately make a difference in patient outcomes.”

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 97.8%.

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 Huff at (931) 540-2609 or ahuff4@ColumbiaState.edu,  or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.