Buckeye Hills Career Center’s Practical Nursing program held a Pinning Ceremony on Thursday, October 2, 2025, celebrating eight students for their accomplishments in successfully completing BHCC’s 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, Adena Regional Medical Center, Southern Ohio Medical Center, and Rivers Health.
The ceremony opened with the student processional. Catherine Abell then led her fellow students in reciting the Nurse’s Prayer. Dr. Amber Nowlin, DNP, RN, PN Program Coordinator welcomed all in attendance, and Miranda Cox, Class President, was the student speaker for the evening.
Scholarships were then awarded by Holzer Health Systems, Rivers Health, and the Nurse Honor Guard of the Ohio Valley. The Best in Clinical Performance Award was given by Holzer Health Systems to Ty Smittle and presented by Lisa Detty, MSN, RN, Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer. The Best-in-Class Performance Award was given by Rivers Health to Miranda Cox and presented by Lori McFarland, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CLSSGB, Chief Nursing Officer, and Jarod Zelaska, Executive Director of Human Resources. The Spirit of Nursing Award was given by the Nurse Honor Guard of the Ohio Valley to Mary Lamb and presented by Candace Moore, Cindy Harrison, and Connie McGlothlin.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of pins by program instructors. Students that received pins included Catherine Abell, Ashton Bauer, Miranda Cox, Mary Lamb, Rhainee Lowe, Kylie Moore, Keely Myers, and Ty Smittle. Program lead instructors included Cara Gibson, BSN, RN; Jennifer Nance, BSN, RN; and Rebecca Blevins, BSN, RN. Program clinical instructors included Fawn Hill, ADN, RN.
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 January 2026 PN Program is open now until October 30, 2025. For more information or to apply, visit BuckeyeHills.net/apply.