Buckeye Hills Career Center’s Practical Nursing program held a Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, celebrating eleven students for their accomplishments in successfully completing the Practical Nursing program.
The Practical Nursing program consists of 1,382 hours of training including 564 hours of lab and clinical experience. During their clinical experience, students exercise the skills they learn in a variety of hospital settings including geriatrics, medical-surgical, pediatrics, obstetrics, and emergency nursing. Clinicals are completed at various locations throughout the region including Four Winds Community, Jenkins Care Community, Abbyshire Place, Holzer Senior Care, Holzer Medical Center, and Rivers Health.
The ceremony opened with the student processional. Natalie Johnson & Sydney Walters then led their fellow students in reciting the Nurse’s Prayer. Dr. Amber Nowlin, DNP, RN, PN Program Coordinator welcomed all in attendance, and Kennedy Smith, Class Vice President, was the student speaker for the evening.
Scholarships were then awarded by Holzer Health Systems and Rivers Health. The Best in Clinical Performance Scholarship was awarded to Mariah Haley by Holzer Health Systems and presented by Sarah Holland, RN, Director of Ambulatory Nursing. The Best in Class Performance Scholarship was awarded to Desiree Secora by Rivers Health and presented by Lori McFarland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CLSSGB, Chief Nursing Officer, and Jarod Zelaska, Executive Director of Human Resources.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of pins by program instructors. Students that received pins included Hollee Castor, Kaitlyn Cox, Danny Fyffe, Mariah Haley, Natalie Johnson, Jessica Messer, Braedon “Drake” Phillips, Jordan Rardin, Desiree Secora, Kennedy Smith, and Sydney Walters. Program lead instructors included Cara Gibson, BSN, RN; Jennifer Nance, BSN, RN; and Tresera Rhoton, BSN, RN. Program clinical instructors included Rachel Piquignot, BSN, RN; and Jennifer Blackburn, ADN, RN.
The January 2024 Practical Nursing cohort included five early placement, OTC+ students. High School students enrolled in the Health Academy pathway at Buckeye Hills Career Center have the opportunity to begin the Practical Nursing program during the second semester of their senior year. Early placement students that completed the PN program include Hollee Castor, Kaitlyn Cox, Jessica Messer, Jordan Rardin, and Desiree Secora.
The students are now eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Upon passing the NCLEX-PN, students earn their license and their LPN credential.
The Practical Nursing program is held twice annually with 48-week cohorts beginning in January and September. Enrollment for the Fall 2025 PN Program will open mid-February.