Practical Nursing Orientation

The Fall 2015 Practical Nursing program held orientation for 67 students on August 20 & 21st. Dr. Turner, President​, provided an update on the expected day of completion of the new Health/Science Complex. A slideshow took students inside the building​ to view the classrooms and simulation lab.  The simulation lab includes a fully simulated birthing suite, maternal birthing bed, and a state-of-the-art thermal nursery warmer. Mrs. Hankins stated that the simulation lab is \”comparable to any university sim lab.\”

Faculty shared their nursing specialty experience, personal educational journey​,​ and lessons learned​ with students. Mrs. Stroud, Nursing II instructor, shared her experiences as a beginning nurse and ​stressed ​the importance of the foundational knowledge and skills provided in a practical nursing curriculum. An orientation for students at major clinical sites was held earlier in the week.

Tonya Hankins, Director of Practical Nursing, explain​ed​ that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of LPNs to grow 25​% ​from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Hankins state​d​ that the job market continues strong in the BRTC service area. She noted that the BRTC graduates continue to experience much success with job placement with approximately 60​% accepting positions prior to graduation and a total of ​95% within 3 months of graduation.

Photo: Front: Terri Langston, Tiffany Gugle, Tahnee Green, Tonya Hankins, Ramonda Housh, Jennifer Hibbard, Wendy Ward