(Butler, PA) For her fellow classmates graduating from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in registered nursing, 鈥淭he world is your oyster,鈥� 25-year-old Meredith Morrison said.
鈥淎ny job, any specialty, anything that you could want to do as a new graduate,鈥� the Butler resident said, 鈥渋s open right now.鈥�
杏吧原创 in 2023 has a record 74 graduates in a program that began 50 years ago.
The college May 11 awarded pins to 61 graduates from 11 Pennsylvania counties and from Ohio and New Jersey who completed the associate in applied science degree program in Nursing, R.N., offered on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township.
杏吧原创 on May 12 awarded pins to 13 graduates from four Pennsylvania counties who completed the program at 杏吧原创 @ Brockway in Jefferson County.
Community colleges grant more than 75 percent of associate degrees in nursing in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
杏吧原创鈥檚 graduates reported accepting positions with hourly pay ranging from $29.95 to $36.08 and with signing bonuses of up to $15,000.
鈥淎nd when you want to go into things like overtime and holiday time, it鈥檚 even more,鈥� said Dr. Patty Annear, dean of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health. 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably the best market that I have ever seen in all of my years of teaching and working in nursing.鈥�
鈥淚mportant entities believe in 杏吧原创鈥�
杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2023 in Nursing, R.N., included the first six Grove City College students to earn the degree from 杏吧原创 as a result of a 2019 partnership established between the two institutions of higher education.
Grove City College students in their sophomore and junior years pursue 41 credits in nine technical and clinical courses through 杏吧原创 while also taking classes in Grove City College鈥檚 Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing.
Paul McNulty, left, president of Grove City College, and Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of 杏吧原创, are shown Thursday, May 11, 2023, during a pinning ceremony in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a historic day for Grove City College,鈥� said Paul McNulty, president of Grove City College and guest speaker at the May 11 pinning ceremony on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus.
杏吧原创 registered nursing graduates represent the Pennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Westmoreland counties.
Registered nurse is a high-priority occupation in each of those counties. Annual demand for registered nurses through 2028 in those counties is expected to range from 100 to 1,716, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry鈥檚 Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of talk about the shortage of nurses,鈥� McNulty said. 鈥淎nd surely the world needs more nurses to keep up with present and projected levels of health care service. That鈥檚 a very big, practical concern.
鈥淏ut I would argue that the world needs more nurses because the world desperately needs people of strong character who possess greater devotion to the well-being of our communities. That鈥檚 who nurses are. Nurses are our models. Nurses are our heroes.鈥�
Elizabeth Mackey, left, a junior at Grove City College, receives a pin from Butler County Community College faculty member Lorraine Wolfrum during a ceremony Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2023 in Nursing, R.N., includes seven students who participated in a tuition assistance program sponsored by Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot; and seven who participated in a similar program offered in 杏吧原创 @ Brockway鈥檚 service area and sponsored by Penn Highlands Healthcare, DuBois.
鈥淚t really shows that these very important entities believe in 杏吧原创,鈥� said Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of 杏吧原创. 鈥淚t certainly speaks volumes that we have such great support from Grove City, Concordia and Penn Highlands in DuBois.鈥�
Additionally, 30 scholarships are available to students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 registered nursing or practical nursing programs, according to Bobbi Jo Cornetti, development coordinator of the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation.
Hailey Metzger, left, and Meredith Morrison, both of Butler, walk toward the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township on Thursday, May 11, 2023, to attend a pinning ceremony for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. Metzger and Morrison were among a record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states to graduate from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
"We are very prepared. We have clinicals. We have simulations labs that prepare us for specific situations."
- Hailey Metzger, 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., graduate
鈥淲e can really do anything we want鈥�
Graduates reported accepting positions to work in intensive care or telemetry units. Emergency departments. Obstetrics. In long-term care, in behavioral health or in skilled rehabilitation.
鈥淲e are super-fortunate,鈥� said graduate Hailey Metzger, 20, of Butler. 鈥� 鈥淲e can really do anything we want.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty well-known that there is a lot of opportunities out there,鈥� said graduate Shane McIntire, 21, of Butler.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a nursing shortage everywhere,鈥� said graduate Paige McKain, 21, of Butler.
Shane McIntire, of Butler, left, receives a pin from 杏吧原创 faculty member Michelle Rock during a ceremony Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
"It鈥檚 probably the best market that I have ever seen in all of my years of teaching and working in nursing."
- Dr. Patty Annear, dean, 杏吧原创鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health
鈥淪o many learning opportunities鈥�
Students completed 650 hours of clinical experiences and program-ending preceptorships 鈥� a 鈥渞eadiness assessment鈥� in which they are paired with and mentored by a nurse, said Heather Darrington, a 杏吧原创 faculty member and instructor of second-level students.
Clinical experiences begin in a student鈥檚 first semester at 杏吧原创, Darrington said, and were held in the past year at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh; Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights; Butler Memorial Hospital and Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot.
鈥淭hey gave us so many learning opportunities for hands-on things, for any number of the skills that are required as a nurse,鈥� said Morrison, who has accepted a position in surgical oncology in Pittsburgh. 鈥淭here was always an instructor willing to stay and teach. Or open up a lab and teach.
鈥淓ach 杏吧原创 instructor has taken the time to explain. They go over things. They hand out their (telephone) numbers and they say, 鈥榃e鈥檙e available. Call us. Text us. Whatever you need if you have questions.鈥欌��
Abigail Emery, left, of Gibsonia, receives a pin from 杏吧原创 faculty member Jessica Bronder during a ceremony Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
鈥淲e are very prepared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 86 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e are very prepared,鈥� Metzger said. 鈥淲e have clinicals. We have simulations labs that prepare us for specific situations.鈥�
The program, McKain said, 鈥渋s very, very hard. But 杏吧原创 gets you to use your critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is very important in nursing. Nursing is not black-and-white. There are a lot of gray areas. You need to be able to think quickly on your feet. There may not to be one right answer right away.鈥�
McKain received the Autumn Rose Cooper 鈥�18 Nursing Award, funded through the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation by the former Autumn Gressly, a 2018 杏吧原创 Nursing, R.N., graduate. The award funds licensure and testing fees for the post-graduation NCLEX-RN.
杏吧原创鈥檚 previous record of graduates in Nursing, R.N., was 73 in 2006.
Concordia Lutheran Ministries鈥� tuition assistance program allows 杏吧原创 registered nursing and practical nursing students to complete their programs tuition-free.
Penn Highlands Healthcare last fall began to sponsor tuition for select 杏吧原创 @ Brockway students who sign an employment agreement.
General applications for fall 2024 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.
Paige McKain, of Butler, smiles after being announced as the recipient of the Autumn Rose Cooper 鈥�18 Nursing Award during a ceremony Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023. In background from left are 杏吧原创 faculty members Kristine Kenny, Sarah Drane and Michelle Rock.
杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2023 in Nursing, R.N.
Graduates from Armstrong County are Ford City residents Maria John, Sara Layton and Jocelyn Shepard; Abigail Purvis, Freeport; Kittanning residents Lisa McGinnis and Sabrina Zeigler; Natalie Peffer, Rural Valley; and Rebecca Stewart, Worthington.
Graduates from Butler County are Butler residents Kristen Barkus, Chrissa Clark, Hannah DeMar, Sarah Felsing, Hostensia Fotoh, Allyson Krajnikovich, Shane McIntire, Paige McKain, Hailey Metzger, Meredith Morrison and Emma Perkins; and Cabot residents Taylor Keith, Maura Schaffer and Jenna Stallsmith.
Graduates from Butler County are also Chicora residents Kathryn Allen, Emma Clark, Steven Schaeffer, Anne Schleiden, Kate Slaugenhoup and Brooke Stahlman; and Cranberry Township residents Rayannah Redhi and Debora Urrutia-Aliano.
Graduates from Butler County are also Lucas Kinnaman, Evans City; Karns City residents Ceanca Everetts and Breanna Vargas; Lyndora residents Emmaline Henne and Samanthia Sutton; and Mars residents Jill Dawson, Nicole Hillman, Tahirih Pellegrino and Paris Trinidad-Charles.
Graduates from Butler County are also Hannah Farrington, Parker; Prospect residents Alexis Barbati and Kayla Ward; Brooke May, Renfrew; Cole Reiser, Sarver; Madelin Culleiton, Saxonburg; Haley Cararini, Slippery Rock; Valencia residents Timothy Mahoney, Amanda Olesnevich and Brianna Schneider; and Kaitlyn Hayes, Zelienople.
Nicole Hillman, left, of Mars, receives a hug from 杏吧原创 faculty member Kristine Kenny during a ceremony Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Succop Theater on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township for graduates of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program. A record 74 students from 15 Pennsylvania counties and three states graduated from 杏吧原创鈥檚 two-year career program in 2023.
Graduates from Clearfield County are DuBois residents Rebecca Fishel, Alicia Henry, Ashley Lingenfelter and Tracey McAllister; and Elizabeth Morris, Penfield.
Graduates from Jefferson County are Kayla Jamison, Brockway; Brookville residents Amanda Christensen and Sara-Mae Eble; Jessica Kerr, Punxsutawney; Twonda Jamison, Reynoldsville; and Chloe Hartzfeld, Sykesville.
Other graduates are Abigail Emery, Gibsonia, Allegheny County; Jessica Rutkoski, Freedom, Beaver County; Madison Davis, Knox, Clarion County; Joseph Geiser, Meadville, Crawford County; Jordan Anthony, Brockport, Elk County; Emily Smyth, Lititz, Lancaster County; Amanda Wemette, Ellwood City, Lawrence County; Heather Bell, Kane, McKean County; Abigail Montgomery, Mercer, Mercer County; Lindsay Chrisman, Franklin, Venango County; Jessica Bagdon, New Kensington, Westmoreland County; Finnley Coglon, Morristown, N.J.; and Elizabeth Mackey, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.