(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Dec. 18, 2017) - - - Columbia State Community College pinned 44 new nursing graduates in a traditional ceremony held Friday, Dec. 15 in the Webster Athletic Center.

"The December 2017 nursing graduates are a group of talented, creative individuals that will bring much to the profession of nursing," said Barb Blum, Columbia State program director of nursing. "They have demonstrated the 'art and science' of nursing that blends compassion with the knowledge necessary to be effective health care providers."

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 92 percent, which surpasses the 2016 Tennessee rate of 87.7 percent and the 2016 national rate of 84 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.

"For some, the associate degree in nursing will be the first of many academic accomplishments," said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. "These new nurses are beginning careers that will be both challenging and rewarding. The passion for learning and commitment to patient care instilled at Columbia State creates a legacy with significant impact."

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.

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