Photo Caption: Nursing graduates include residents of Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Wayne and Williamson Counties, as well as Bedford, Davidson, Dickson and Rutherford Counties.

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Dec. 15, 2015) - - - Columbia State Community College nursing faculty pinned 42 new nursing graduates in front of family and friends during a traditional ceremony held Friday, December 11 in the Webster Athletic Center.

"The December 2015 nursing graduates have the skills and knowledge to enter the nursing field with confidence," said Barb Blum, Columbia State director of nursing. "They have had a variety of experience with patients and clients across the lifespan, proving themselves able to assess, treat and evaluate effectively and therapeutically. As health care challenges increase, they are prepared to meet them and enrich the future of nursing."

Columbia State nursing graduates recently completed four semesters of classroom instruction and ten credit hours of clinical instruction in order to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

Next, graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination in order to earn licensure, which is required to practice as a registered nurse. The May 2015 Columbia State nursing students' first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 97.56 percent, which surpasses the Tennessee rate of 89.15 percent and the national rate of 85.49 percent.

Nursing students are trained to provide direct patient care in various areas, including medical, surgical, pediatrics, and more. After graduation, these nurses will work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools and home health care settings.

"The success story for registered nurses who graduate from Columbia State includes education achievement, rewarding employment, and the opportunity for immediate impact on the health and well-being of communities," said Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of Columbia State's health sciences division and professor of radiologic technology. "Partnerships with medical facilities and providers across the college's service area allow Columbia State's nursing program to provide students with diverse, practical experiences to enrich classroom learning and prepare future nurses for exciting careers."

The Columbia State nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education. It has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The program's four-year average graduate job placement rate is 95.2 percent.

Columbia State's nursing program has a competitive admission process with applicants admitted twice per year. For more information about applying to the program, contact Blum at (931) 540-2609 or bblum@ColumbiaState.edu, or visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.

Photo Caption: Columbia State Community College nursing graduates Natalie Anderson (left) and Katie Gilman (right) lead the nursing pledge in honor of Florence Nightingale and all those who have worked diligently to promote the nursing profession.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.