(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Dec. 13, 2016) - - - Columbia State Community College nursing faculty pinned 47 new nursing graduates in front of family and friends during a traditional ceremony held Friday, Dec. 9 in the Webster Athletic Center.

"Our nursing graduates have invested time and energy to be successful in our program and today's challenges in health care," said Barb Blum, Columbia State director of nursing. "These students are prepared to give the excellent, individualized care that Columbia State nursing graduates are known for."

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 2016 Columbia State nursing students' first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 87 percent, which is equivalent to the Tennessee rate of 87.7 that surpasses the national rate of 84 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.

"Graduating from nursing school is a major achievement and opens doors to an exciting and rewarding career," said Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of Columbia State's health sciences division and professor of radiologic technology. "Congratulations to the December 2016 nursing class. Columbia State's tradition of sending exceptional registered nurses out to provide exemplary patient care continues."

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, light candles as they get ready to recite the nursing pledge in honor of Florence Nightingale and all those who have worked diligently to promote the nursing profession.

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

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.

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