Seventeen New River Community College students have completed requirements for the three-semester practical nursing program at the college. They received certificates and their nursing pins in a ceremony on August 1.
Practical nursing graduates include: from Giles County- Kayla Blankenship, Pearisburg; Melissa Langley, Rich Creek; Sarah Miller, Pearisburg; Noell Neice, Pembroke; Kelli Price, Narrows; Jenni Proctor, Narrows; Victoria Wilson, Narrows; from Montgomery County- Savannah Bandy, Shawsville; Katleen Booher, Christiansburg; Eliana Brammer, Shawsville; Erin Childress, Christiansburg; Natasha Gaston, Christiansburg; Heather Johnson-Rivera, Shawsville; Kayla Wikstrom, Blacksburg; from Pulaski County- Kelli Duncan, Dublin; Hannah Flatten, Dublin; and from Radford- Kyndell Rogers.
Noell Neice was chosen by her peers to give the graduation address. Also participating in the ceremony were Sarah Tolbert-Hurysz, interim dean of arts and sciences; Melissa Rice, assistant professor of practical nursing; and Dr. Lorrie Coe-Meade, nursing program director. Ending the program, Dr. Graham Mitchell, professor of psychology and religion, led a Blessing of the Hands ceremony with nursing faculty and students to bring “healing and wholeness” to the nurse’s touch.
NRCC’s certificate program prepares students to qualify as contributing members of a health care team, rendering patient care in a variety of health service facilities. These students are eligible to take the Virginia Board of Nursing examination leading to licensing as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
