<p><strong>COLUMBIA —</strong> Columbia State Community College recently honored 40 nursing graduates in a pinning ceremony at the Webster Athletic Center, according to the college. The graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 540 hours of clinical training to earn their Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. The ceremony concluded with graduates reciting the Nightingale Pledge, formally accepting their responsibility as registered nurses.</p><p>Columbia State's nursing program boasts exceptional results: the most recent data show a 98 percent first-attempt pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for 2024 graduates, compared to the national average of 90.8 percent for associate degree nursing programs. Graduates will work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools, and home health settings across the region, providing direct patient care in medical, surgical, pediatric, and other specialty areas.</p>