On Thursday, August 2nd, Southern Regional Technical College held a pinning ceremony where the most recent class of Practical Nursing students from the Thomasville and Tifton Campus locations were honored. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. 

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of these students.  They are well prepared to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination and begin their careers.  They have all worked hard to attain their goals and will make a lasting contribution to healthcare in our community,” commented SRTC Practical Nursing Program Chair Carol Morgan, RN, BSN, FCN.  

The pinning ceremony is a rite passage into the nursing profession, during which each student received a pin and a small lamp. The pin is used to remind students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lamp portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the 1800s Nightingale was known as the ‘lady with the lamp’ tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recited the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of nursing.

The students that received pins were: Thomasville Campus – Samantha Borden of Cairo, Artevia Brown of Moultrie, Jennifer Campos-Alvarado of Moultrie, Ja’Nique Clayton of Thomasville, Shakaya Jackson of Thomasville, Tiffany Lamons of Thomasville, Rhaquese Miller of Thomasville, William Perry of Thomasville, Heather Plymel of Thomasville, Emalee Sholar of Cairo, Chelsea Thompson of Barney, and Gracyn Whitaker of Moultrie; Tifton Campus – Chandler Bearden of Sylvester, William Andrew Byers of Tifton, Joesy Coronado of Tifton, Emily Gandy of Sparks, Chelsey Hartsfield of Sylvester, Cristina Huerta of Tifton, Kimjuana Ivey of Tifton, Cornellia Lane of Tifton, Nestor Nunez-Vazquez of Omega, Shelbi Singletary of Tifton, and Amber Walker of Tifton.

The Southern Regional Technical College Practical Nursing HESI Exit Exam Award is given to the student who has the highest score on the Exit Exam on each campus. This year’s highest HESI Exit Exam award was presented to Jennifer Campos-Alvarado and Nestor Nunez-Vazquez.

The Archbold Leadership Award is given to the student who presents outstanding leadership qualities not only in the classroom but also in the clinical setting and was presented to Cristina Huerta and Heather Plymel.

The Most Outstanding Senior Award for the Practical Nursing program is voted on by the PN students and was presented to William Perry and Nestor Nunez-Vazquez. The students are asked to vote of the student who expresses outstanding behaviors in the clinical setting. This individual should stand out as someone who is clinically competent in all areas such as nursing skills, serves as a mentor to peers, strong patient educator and advocate, caring nature, flexible, strong team-minded, maintains 95% attendance in the classroom and clinical setting, have at least a 2.75 GPA and demonstrates a commitment to strong work ethics.

The Practical Nursing program is a 5 semester diploma program designed to prepare students to write the NCLEX-PN for licensure as practical nurses. The program prepares graduates to give competent nursing care. This is done through a selected number of academic and occupational courses providing a variety of techniques and materials necessary to assist the student in acquiring the needed knowledge and skills to give competent care. A variety of clinical experiences is planned so that theory and practice are integrated under the guidance of the clinical instructor. For more information about SRTC’s Practical Nursing Program call 888-205-3449.