On December 12th, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held a pinning ceremony honoring the single largest class of Practical Nursing (PN) students from the Moultrie Campus. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations.
“Mrs. Carol Morgan and I are ecstatic to have graduated such a large group of caring and gifted future nurses. Most of these nurses are continuing directly into the Associate of Science in Nursing-Bridge Program, and most of them are already employed in healthcare. They have all worked diligently to attain their goals and will make a lasting contribution to healthcare in our community,” commented SRTC Practical Nursing Instructor Jennifer Bennett.
The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage into the nursing profession, during which each student received a pin and a small lamp. The pin is used to remind students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lamp portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the 1800s Nightingale was known as the ‘lady with the lamp’ tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recited the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of nursing.
The students that received pins were: Tina Alexander of Tifton, Jewell Anfinson of Coolidge, Martin Baker of Moultrie, Brooke Burns of Moultrie, Jasmine Burrus of Quitman, Samantha Campbell of Attapulgus, Amber Creel of Tifton, Savannah Dean of Moultrie, Sara Fender of Nashville, Sonya Howard of Thomasville, Sylvia Howard of Tifton, Savannah Morgan of Moultrie, Talena Pop of Ellenton, Shamecka Rhodes of Moultrie, Javanta Searcy of Fitzgerald, Lori Sherling of Moultrie, Blair Van Kirk of Havelock, NC, and Tracey Wood of Doerun.
Several awards were given during the pinning ceremony to acknowledge students for their outstanding achievements.
The Southern Regional Technical College Practical Nursing HESI Exit Exam Award is given to the student who has the highest score on the Exit Exam on each campus. This year’s highest HESI exit exam award was presented to Tracey Wood.
The Colquitt Regional Medical Center Leadership Award is given to the student who presents outstanding leadership qualities not only in the classroom but also in the clinical setting and was presented to Brooke Burns.
The Most Outstanding Senior Award for the Practical Nursing program is voted on by the PN students and was presented to Talena Pope. The students are asked to vote of the student who expresses outstanding behaviors in the clinical setting. This individual should stand out as someone who is clinically competent in all areas such as nursing skills, serves as a mentor to peers, strong patient educator and advocate, caring nature, flexible, strong team-minded, maintains 95% attendance in the classroom and clinical setting, have at least a 2.75 GPA and demonstrates a commitment to strong work ethics.
The Practical Nursing program is a five-semester diploma program designed to prepare students to write the NCLEX-PN for licensure as practical nurses. The program prepares graduates to give competent nursing care. This is done through a selected number of academic and occupational courses providing a variety of techniques and materials necessary to assist the student in acquiring the needed knowledge and skills to give competent care. A variety of clinical experiences is planned so that theory and practice are integrated under the guidance of the clinical instructor. For more information about SRTC’s Practical Nursing Program call 888-205-3449.