Elizabeth Kirtley
  • Nursing
  • Class of 2015
  • Columbia, TN

Columbia State Pins Elizabeth Kirtley as a New Nursing Grad

2015 May 14

Columbia State Community College pinned Elizabeth Kirtley of Columbia as a new nursing graduate in a traditional ceremony held Friday, May 8 in the Webster Athletic Center.

"The May 2015 nursing graduates are ready to face the challenges of health care. They have participated in activities to improve the quality of nursing care in hospital and community settings," said Barb Blum, director of Columbia State's nursing program. "They have also been involved with volunteer events with Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, King's Daughter's and others. They are a well-rounded group of future professionals that will enhance the nursing profession."

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 Columbia State nursing students' first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 88.46 percent, which surpasses the national rate of 86 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 nursing program at Columbia State has a reputation for consistently meeting the needs of patients, providers, and medical facilities throughout the college's service area and beyond," said Dr. Kae Fleming, dean of Columbia State's health sciences division and professor of radiologic technology. "Graduates leave the program well prepared to successfully obtain licensure and employment, and there are unlimited opportunities for the registered nurse graduate from the two-year college."

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.