COLUMBIA — Columbia State Community College recently celebrated 40 nursing graduates in a pinning ceremony at the Webster Athletic Center. The graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 540 hours of clinical instruction to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. At the ceremony, graduates recited the Nightingale Pledge as they accepted their solemn responsibility as nurses.
Columbia State nursing graduates continue to outperform national standards. The most recent data available demonstrate a 98% first-attempt pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Columbia State graduates in 2024, compared to the national average of 90.8% for associate degree nursing graduates the same year. After graduation, these nurses will work in various settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools, and home health care.
Nursing Program Director Dr. Loretta Bond emphasized the significance of the moment: "The pinning was a memorable occasion which offered the opportunity to celebrate our graduates and acknowledge their hard work." The college's in-field placement rate within six to twelve months of program completion is 99%. For more information about applying to the nursing program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.