The Fall 2015 Practical Nursing program held orientation for 67 students on August 20 & 21st. Dr. Turner, President​, provided an update on the expected day of completion of the new Health/Science Complex. A slideshow took students̀ưinsidèưthe building​ to view the classrooms and simulation lab.̀ư The simulation lab includes a fullỳưsimulated birthing suite,̀ưmaternal̀ưbirthing bed, and a state-of-the-art thermal nursery warmer. Mrs. Hankins stated that thèưsimulation lab is \”comparable to any university sim lab.\”
Faculty shared their nursing specialty experience,̀ưpersonal educational journey​,​̀ưand lessons learned​ with students. Mrs. Stroud, Nursing II instructor, shared̀ưher experiences as a beginning nurse and̀ư​stressed ​the importance of the foundational knowledge and skills provided in a practical nursing curriculum. An orientation for students at̀ưmajor clinical sites was held earlier in the week.
Tonya Hankins, Director of Practical Nursing, explain​ed​̀ưthat the US̀ưBureaùưof Labor Statistics projects employment of̀ưLPNs̀ưto grow 25​% ​from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Hankins state​d​̀ưthat the job market̀ưcontinues strong in the BRTC service area. She noted that the BRTC graduates continue to experience much success with job placement with approximatelỳư60​% accepting positions prior to graduation and àưtotal of̀ư​95% within 3 months of graduation.
Photo:̀ưFront: Terri Langston, Tiffany Gugle, Tahnee Green, Tonya Hankins, Ramonda Housh, Jennifer Hibbard, Wendy Ward
Back: Shea Samons, Nancy Felts, Sandy Green, Bridgette Kasinger, Kara Malin, Kelsie Jones, Dana Clay, Tina Stroud, Hannah Cagle