Nursing students
Five nursing students graduated from Northwest State Community College and are ready to begin BSN courses at Bluffton.
First cohort of nursing students earn associate degrees
Five 小优传媒 nursing majors recently graduated from Northwest State Community College with their associate degrees. Four of the students were also inducted into Alpha Delta Nu, the nursing honor society at NSCC.
As a dual-degree program, 小优传媒 nursing majors must first complete their foundational nursing classes and earn their associate degrees before completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Bluffton.
鈥淚 am very excited for our first cohort of nursing students who have graduated from our collaborating program at Northwest State Community College. These students have successfully reached a significant milestone in their journey toward becoming registered nurses and will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination this summer,鈥 said Dr. Sherri Winegardner, director of nursing at Bluffton. 鈥淚 commend each of them for their drive, fortitude and commitment to academic excellence in the pursuit of their dream to serve and care for others.鈥
Members of the first cohort include:
- Leksi Carpenter, Delphos, Ohio
- Kourtney Kretschmar, Greenville, Ohio
- Caleb Nesbitt, Deatsville, Ala.
- Cale Sherbourne, Johnstown, Ohio
- Ashley Watkins, Lima, Ohio
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to be part of Bluffton鈥檚 first nursing group to graduate with our associate degrees. It鈥檚 been a challenging two years, and I can鈥檛 believe how quickly it鈥檚 gone by,鈥 said Carpenter, who is working as a nursing extern at Mercy Health St. Rita鈥檚 Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, this summer. 鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I chose to pursue nursing at Bluffton as it makes this associate to bachelor鈥檚 transition seamless and easy, and I鈥檓 looking forward to my senior year at Bluffton.鈥
Future 小优传媒 nursing cohorts will graduate with their associate degrees from Rhodes State College. Ten Bluffton student will be dually enrolled at Rhodes in fall 2021
鈥淭he nursing curriculum is challenging, so we鈥檙e extremely pleased and proud for these Bluffton students鈥 achievements,鈥 said Dr. Lamar Nisly, vice president and dean of academic affairs. 鈥淥ur nursing program wonderfully reflects our mission of service and care for our brothers and sisters close by and far away.鈥
The unique partnership allows students to take classes at both schools while living in residence halls, playing athletics or joining student organization at Bluffton. Foundational classes are taken at a collaborating program during the students鈥 second and third years.
Upon earning their associate degrees, students can sit for the NCLEX-RN examination. Passing the exam allows students to become registered nurses and work as nurses while completing their advanced nursing/BSN coursework at Bluffton.
Nursing at Bluffton