<p><strong>COLUMBIA —</strong> Columbia State Community College celebrated 40 nursing graduates at a pinning ceremony in the Webster Athletic Center, where they recited the Nightingale Pledge to mark their entry into the profession, according to the college. The graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 540 hours of clinical training to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.</p><p>Columbia State nursing graduates demonstrated exceptional preparation for licensure. Recent data show a 98 percent first-attempt pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for nursing, compared to the national average of 90.8 percent for associate degree nurses. "The pinning was a memorable occasion which offered the opportunity to celebrate our graduates and acknowledge their hard work," said Dr. Loretta Bond, nursing program director. These nurses will work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools, and home health care throughout the region.</p>