(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - May 8, 2017) - - - Columbia State Community College nursing faculty pinned 38 new nursing graduates in front of family and friends during a traditional ceremony held Friday, May 5 in the Webster Athletic Center.

"This semester's graduates are a diverse group that brings life experiences from many areas," said Barb Blum, Columbia State director of nursing. "They have demonstrated an ability to work well together and with staff at multiple healthcare facilities. They have worked hard to reach this milestone that will improve their lives and others in the community."

Columbia State nursing graduates recently completed four semesters of classroom instruction and ten credit 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 2017 Columbia State nursing students' first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 91 percent, which surpasses the Tennessee rate of 87 percent and the national rate of 85 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.

"Realistic on-campus labs and partnerships with health care facilities across the region afford students invaluable hands-on experiences," said Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of Columbia State's health sciences division and professor of radiologic technology. "Nursing graduates will continue the tradition of changing futures - for themselves and the patients entrusted to their care."

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 95.2 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 Blum at (931) 540-2609 or bblum@ColumbiaState.edu, or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.

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 State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.