A Packed Crowd Celebrates Beckfield College Nursing Graduates
Florence, KY (March 23, 2009) Lakeside Christian Church in Northern Kentucky was packed with nearly 700 people celebrating loved ones graduating from Beckfield College’s Nursing Program on Friday, March 20, 2009.
With a critical shortage of nurses in the United States and around the world, many of the graduates have jobs already in place upon completion of their nursing board examination. As Dean of Nursing Tim Curl explained to his students, “You have sacrificed everything to be here. Your schooling has come before your family, friends and yourselves. This is only the beginning. You should continue learning each and every day on the job, becoming the best nurses you can be.”
The more than 40 students were excited, anxious, exhausted, sad and relieved to have crossed the finish line, but it’s a marathon career not a one time sprint.
“From day one I have expected you to provide treatment to every patient as if he/she were my mother,” remarked Mary Beth Chandler, RN, BSN, Clinical Instructor at Beckfield College. “I challenge each of you to continue being the best nurse possible, providing compassion every day and with every patient, no matter how challenging the situation.”
The pinning ceremony is the culmination of a student’s journey from education to the beginning of their professional nursing careers. Each student received a Beckfield College Nursing pin and a lamp, a traditional element in nursing dating back to Florence Nightingale who distinguished herself during the Crimean War nursing sick and wounded British soldiers.
Many of the Beckfield College graduates are mothers, on second careers, or finally pursing a dream they have had for many years. The journey has been long and the work of a nurse is hard and many times unappreciated, but these students faced the rigorous studies at Beckfield head on, preparing them well.
“We live in a rapidly changing world, one in which nursing can no longer rely on systems and resources of the past to guide it through the next decade. Nursing education must be constantly developed and redesigned to ensure our health care system meets the demands of modern society,” explained Benita Utz, Vice President of Patient Services, St. Luke Hospital. “Nursing is dependent on its resources, on skilled teachers and state of the art facilities, such as those provided by Beckfield College.”
The nursing program has been in demand among students at Beckfield College in conjunction with a growing need from the community. The nursing program began in late 2004, and the community’s increased need has been met head-on by the College. Beckfield’s response has been the expansion of facilities and addition of a Practical Nursing program in 2009.
The RN, Associate Degree Nursing Program at Beckfield College is a two-year curriculum comprised of classroom, laboratory and clinical learning experiences. The course of study is 104 quarter hours and designed to prepare the graduate as a beginning generalist practitioner, functioning as a provider of care, coordinator of care, and a member of the nursing profession.
Beckfield College is a career college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) that has, since 1984, been evolving to meet the educational needs of its learners while meeting the demands of the community and area businesses. Beckfield College is focused on, and dedicated to, a personalized teaching and learning environment designed to support the personal and professional career development of quality students. Instructors bring years of real-world, practical experience and education into the classrooms to enhance the students’ education. With its philosophy that “Success in College breeds Success in Life,” Beckfield College celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009.
3/23/2009 10:16:00 AM