杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) One by one each crossed the stage of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Succop Theater, 55 graduates in the college鈥檚 main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., and residents of six counties who can enter the high-priority occupation in western Pennsylvania.

鈥淛onathan Brake,鈥� 杏吧原创 faculty member Michelle Rock announced May 12 of the graduate from Kittanning, 鈥渨ill be starting his nursing adventures with Concordia Lutheran Ministries.鈥�

鈥淪hyniah Watson,鈥� 杏吧原创 faculty member Melissa Griffie announced of the graduate from Mars, 鈥渉as accepted a position at Butler Memorial Hospital in the critical care float pool.鈥�

鈥淣atasha Myers,鈥� 杏吧原创 faculty member Amanda Gillespie announced of the graduate from Jamestown, 鈥渉as accepted a position at Meadville Medical Center.鈥�

鈥淭his program,鈥� Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of 杏吧原创, told the Succop Theater audience exceeding 400, 鈥渂est exemplifies our role as the community鈥檚 college, producing graduates in a high-priority occupation 鈥� and coming to our communities in their greatest time of need, during a global pandemic, by producing such excellent nurses to care for their loved ones.鈥�

Graduates in 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., completed the program during  in which they wore face masks or face shields and personal protective equipment, said Dr. Patty Annear, dean of the college鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.

Graduates live in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties and received in Succop Theater on May 12 the nursing pin that signifies their completion of the college鈥檚 70-credit associate in applied science degree career program.

Joy Davis, of Harrisville, has accepted a position at Allegheny Health Network Grove City; Brake, Crystal Dull, of Vandergrift, and Ruth Ann Bradford, of Worthington, at Concordia Lutheran Ministries through the health care provider鈥檚 new tuition assistance program with 杏吧原创; and others, at UPMC Children鈥檚 Hospital of Pittsburgh or elsewhere.

Registered nurse a high-priority occupation 

Registered nurse is a high-priority occupation in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry鈥檚 Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.

A 9 percent increase in jobs is expected through 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Bureau of Labor Statistics.

杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., received clinical training at health care providers that include Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health, Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Butler Memorial Hospital, and Allegheny Health Network鈥檚 Allegheny Valley Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital, said Heather Darrington, a 杏吧原创 faculty member.

They also completed 96-hour preceptorships at health care providers that include UPMC Jameson, VA Butler Health Care and Punxsutawney Area Hospital, Darrington said.

"Everyone I spoke to already has a job lined up." 

- Michele Gaiser, of Evans City, 杏吧原创 Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., graduate

"It鈥檚 unlimited options right now." 

- Chelsie Kerns, of Grove City, 杏吧原创 Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., graduate

Retirement risk for registered nurses in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties is high, according to Emsi, an Idaho research company that conducts economic impact analyses for educational institutions.

Emsi reports 2,094 employees identified as registered nurses in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties who in 2022 are 55 or older.

Signing bonuses for 杏吧原创 grads reach $10K

鈥淓veryone I spoke to already has a job lined up,鈥� said Michele Gaiser, of Evans City, a 杏吧原创 Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., graduate who has accepted a position at Allegheny General Hospital.

Thirty-two Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., students reported April 25 that they would graduate debt-free from 杏吧原创. Students also reported April 25 job offers that ranged in hourly rates from $28.90 to $34.69 and signing bonuses reaching $10,000.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unlimited options right now,鈥� said Chelsie Kerns, of Grove City, who has accepted a position at Butler Memorial Hospital and will continue to work at Grove Manor in Grove City.

杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., graduates 鈥渃an certainly have their pick,鈥� Annear said. 鈥淎nd that was demonstrated by the announcements as to where the students would be working.鈥�

To attain licensure, graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. An average of 90 percent of 杏吧原创鈥檚 first-time NCLEX-RN test-takers in the past three years have been successful, Annear said.

鈥淲hen it comes to the state boards,鈥� Gaiser said, 鈥淚 am going to pass the state boards.鈥�

Added Nicole Miller, of Butler, who has accepted a position in the critical care float pool at Butler Memorial Hospital: 鈥淎 lot of the hiring managers actually mentioned more than once they will choose the 杏吧原创 applicant over other programs because we are so well-prepared.鈥�

College honors Larrick, Shaffer

杏吧原创 presented May 12 the second Autumn Rose Cooper Nursing Award to graduate Jessica Hoover, of Freedom. The award established by Cooper, a 2018 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., graduate and registered nurse with UPMC Health Systems, recognizes clinical excellence and funds NCLEX-RN fees.

杏吧原创 also honored the late Janice Phillips Larrick and the late former state Sen. Tim Shaffer.

Larrick passed away at 96 on March 20 and Shaffer at 76 on May 3.

The鈥疛anice Phillips Larrick Charitable Trust in July 2017 committed $1 million to the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus. 

Shaffer in September 2017 committed $1 million to the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building and created 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.

The college in late October held  for the 25,000-square-foot facility that will feature a hospital-like interior with simulated medical-surgery and ICU rooms and will provide an immersive learning environment.

Concordia leader: 杏吧原创 grads 鈥減roud finishers鈥�

Like the Janice Phillips Larrick Charitable Trust and Tim Shaffer, Concordia Lutheran Ministries also committed $1 million to the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building and as part of an up to $10 million partnership with 杏吧原创.

The partnership also helped to create  that debuted on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in January; expanded enrollment in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program; and established a tuition assistance program that allows 杏吧原创 nursing students to complete their program tuition-free and provides a secure position with Concordia Lutheran Ministries after graduation. 

Concordia Lutheran Ministries has over the years hired more than 150 graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 selective-admissions program in Nursing, R.N., said Keith Frndak, president and CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries and guest speaker in Succop Theater on May 12.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty hard just to get into this program,鈥� Frndak said. 鈥淵ou sit here tonight as proud finishers, accomplishing the goal of finishing a very difficult program. I consider it to be an academic marathon.鈥�

Graduates in 杏吧原创 @ Brockway鈥檚 Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., received pins during a ceremony May 9 at 杏吧原创鈥檚 additional location in Jefferson County. The 16 graduates in 杏吧原创 @ Brockway鈥檚 Class of 2022 live in Clarion, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties.

Applications for fall 2023 consideration in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program on its main campus and at 杏吧原创 @ Brockway will be accepted beginning Aug. 1.

杏吧原创 main campus Nursing, R.N., graduates from six counties

Graduates from Armstrong County in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., are Bailey Anthony, Kittanning; Ruth Ann Bradford, Worthington; Jonathan Brake, Kittanning; Mackenzie Jacobs, Dayton; Colleen McGarrity, Ford City; and Abigail Branan, Manorville.

Graduates from Beaver County are Allison Chronister, Fombell; and Jessica Hoover, Freedom.

Graduates from Butler County are Butler residents Heather Bane, Brianna Collins, Kaley Fitzpatrick, Holly Goettler, Krista Hartle, Casey Kretzer, Victoria Lassinger, Nicole Miller, Julia Mincer, Lauren Reddick, Bethany Rhodaberger, Beth Rhodaberger, Emma Scuoteguazza, Kassandra Smith, Clairise Snyder, Lindsey Stover, Sarah Vasas, Julia Williamson and Jaela Yohe.

Graduates from Butler County are Rachel Boltz, Carrie Dingel and Brooke Dingel, all of Cabot; Rhiannon Morin, Cranberry Township; and Michaela Buxton, Michele Gaiser and Bailey Lewis, all of Evans City.

Graduates from Butler County are Abigail Kingerski, Harmony; Joy Davis and Alexandra Gray, both of Harrisville; and Chelsea Boskovic and Shyniah Watson, both of Mars.

Graduates from Butler County are Megan Wilson, Prospect; Taylor Gilliland, Renfrew; Kylie Godlewski and Veda Reiser, both of Sarver; Maryna Boychenko, Seven Fields; Shannon Glenn, Slippery Rock; Lauren Wiles, West Sunbury; and Marcie Delaney, Zelienople.

Graduates from Lawrence County are Skylar Bowers, Volant; Jennifer Cassandro, Ellwood City; and Miranda Sadler, New Castle.

Graduates from Mercer County are Lily Keller, Sandy Lake; Chelsie Kerns and Megan Meyerl, both of Grove City; and Natasha Myers, Jamestown.

Graduate Crystal Dull is from Vandergrift, Westmoreland County.