2000

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Paula MerrittThe Meridian Star VITAL SIG'tS - First-year students Rolanda lrby and Candice Lamb check Jenn 'er Tem– ple's vita .:. ;'ls as part of their training for an associate's degree in nursing. East Ce:: .... Community Col– lege in Dea ..r has achieved a "superior' :mg through its licensed prm: tal nursing gradu– ates, wh maintained a 100 percent su. - rate on the board certificat: - ~ for four consecu– tive years strong ofa passing percentage." Buckman said the achievement is possible because she and co– i nstructor, Sandra Thomas, set high standards, and students know they are expected to excel.

"Our program is fully state and nationally accredited with a job pla cement rate at 100 percent after graduation." Gilmore said. "We often have clinical agencies wanting our graduates o much that they will create a po:.Ition for those studenl<> before graduation." Students wanting to reach out for a solid nursing program from. another direction might consider at close look at Ea~t Mississippi , Community College in Scooba. After several years without· a nursing program, EMCC reopened its doors to those seeking a practi– cal nursing degree about six years ago. "A practical nursing program ere because the need was so strong," said nnison, director of ours– Mississippi Communi– m Scooba and its sister yhew Community Col– ing at East ty College · campus Ma lege in Lo wndes County. "Institutions are always looking , reopened h for nurses Denise Te

"It's that sort of confidence and a lot of hard work on everyone's part that gets us this type of scor– ing," she added. ECCC's Associate Degree Nurs– ing program has also farea well in comparison to state and national requirements, said Melanie Gilmore, director of the associate degree program there.

"We feel .. our students are in demand ;oughout our area because oi high passing rate," said K.aGy E:::Uman, one of two registerea _rses in charge of ECCC'; :?ra:ttcal Nursing pro– gram. "T".-.ere are \"Cry few commu– ruty · any, that have that

Results

1999

"?98

~lay 96':

May94% May92%

Dec. 90% Dec. 80%

Dec. 100% Dec. 91.2%

for student program u said. "To h practical n student a whenever it' The day really are e health-r ei ~1eridian, community believe it

s with this one-year . nder their bel t," she ave a LPN (licensed ursing) degree gives the n option to upgr ade s right for them.'' may come when there nough nurses to fill all ated job open ings in but educators in area colleges said they don't will ha ppen anytime

Aug. 88.9 "

100% 100% 100%

.:5.8{)~ IOOo/c i?C"r

May 85'k Aug. 87.4 May88% Aug. 80.4'"

Dec. 82% Dec. 87.4q Dec. 86% :::lee. 78.5%

May 82% Aug. 88ct May86% Aug. 81cr

Dec. 89% Dec. 87 .4C:C

Dec. 89Cf

Dec bS..:; c~- h ,soon.