Celebrating Future Nurses: A Look into FVCC's Pinning Ceremony

Nursing students at Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) are about to take a big step. They have worked hard to get to this point. On December 16th, at 3:30 p. m. , FVCC will honor its nursing graduates with a pinning ceremony. This event is open to everyone. It will take place in the Arts & Technology Building, Room 139, on the Kalispell campus. The ceremony is a big deal. It marks the start of a new journey for these students. They will soon take national licensing exams. Passing these exams is crucial. It allows them to work as nurses. The exams, NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, are developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). They test the skills of nursing graduates from all over the U. S. and Canada. The nursing program at FVCC is tough. Students have to meet high standards. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program takes five semesters. Students complete 72 credits and 495 hours of clinical work. The Practical Nursing program is shorter. It takes three semesters. Students complete 41 credits and 270 hours of clinical work. The graduates are ready to take on the world. They have worked hard to get here. The ASN graduates are Dylan Baker, Devon Blades, Hannah Hutchins, Sam Jones, Anna Johnson, Josh Johnson, Andrea Lopez, Josh Ochen, Katya Podlipaeva, Sara Sheedy, Missy Simula, and Kyle To. The Practical Nursing graduates are Sarah Calhoun, Judy Carnahan, Roxanne Carroll, Mike Cullen, Amelia Greenfield, Ben Hruby, Natasha Kauffman, Phill Padgham, Maddie Smith, and Mia White. Nursing is a respected profession. The pinning ceremony is a tradition. It welcomes new nurses into the field. It also helps them build a sense of community. They will need this support as they start their careers. The FVCC nursing programs are competitive. Not everyone gets in. The programs have limited spots. This makes the achievement of these graduates even more impressive. They have completed a rigorous curriculum. They are now ready to enter a high-demand workforce. Nursing is a rewarding career. These graduates are ready to make a difference.