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The six graduates of Beaufort County Community College’s practical nursing (PN) program celebrated completing their program with a pinning ceremony on July 10. The ceremony included a traditional lantern-lighting while graduates recited the practical nursing pledge.

Macee Adams, Isabela Burke, Jasmin Corprew, Nykeiya Hollis, Amber Magazine and Anna Purvis graduated from the program.

Course work for the PN program includes the domains of healthcare, nursing practice and the holistic individual. It emphasizes safe, individualized nursing care and participation in the interdisciplinary team while employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement and informatics. Students must develop nursing narratives, concept maps and complete clinicals at local healthcare facilities.

During her invocation, Amber Magazine said that the program was a chance for rejuvenation for the students, advancing their careers and stepping out as nurses, renewing a commitment to help their community.

The diploma program is shorter than the associate degree nursing (ADN) program, so it is ideal for students who want to start in the healthcare field quickly. Students can opt to later apply for the licensed practical nurse to registered nurse (LPN to RN) program to expand their credential. Students can apply starting September 1 to start in 2025.

During the ceremony, nursing instructor Melissa Peoples presented Anna Purvis with the Academic Excellence Award.

The graduates must pass the NCLEX-PN before starting employment at physicians’ offices; clinics; hospitals; or rehabilitation, long-term care, or home health facilities. BCCC’s PN program currently has a 98 percent three-year pass rate (2021-2023) for the NCLEX. Starting this year, programs will have to meet 90 percent of the national average annually instead of a three-year average. The associate degree nursing Class of 2024 holds a 94 percent pass rate, which is well above the historical national average of 84 percent.

Both ADN and PN programs are competitive programs to which students must apply for admission. Students must pass the TEAS test for admission, and BCCC is now accepting passing TEAS scores from three years prior to the admission deadline. BCCC also accepts HESI scores for admission.

BCCC will cover tuition and fees for the practical nursing program for qualifying residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties through the Beaufort Promise Scholarship. Students can also apply for additional scholarships to cover the cost of textbooks. North Carolina residents from households making less than $80,000 may also qualify to for the Next NC Scholarship, regardless of their county of residence. They must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before applying for scholarships to help the college assess their financial needs.

For more information about the PN program, contact Nicole Smith-Poulin, allied health admissions coordinator, at 252-940-6431 or nicole.smith-poulin@beaufortccc.edu.

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