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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been educating students since 1911 and there is nothing harder than what these students have been through,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThey have the desire, the grit and certainly the aptitude but they also have the support from you, friends and family, an entire network around them. Without you, they (the nurses) would not be where they are today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/kaneisha-fortenberry-class-pres-200x300.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIronically, a medical condition almost kept the class president, Kaneisha Fortenberry from realizing her dream of being a nurse. The Laurel resident began having unexplainable cardiac problems over the last three years, which led to visiting doctors from New Orleans to Jackson. However, she never wavered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt can be disheartening. I was almost unable to see this day but we\u2019re overcoming,\u201d said Fortenberry. \u201cI\u2019ll be starting in the cardiac bypass nursing unit and hopefully be a labor and delivery nurse. That\u2019s my dream!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After 10 years working in an office because of a medical condition, Sara Johnson of Laurel also thought her desire to be a nurse would be impossible to achieve. At 18 months of age, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a lung disease which affects breathing and overall health. In 2019, a new medicine changed her life drastically, allowing the Laurel resident to reconsider following her nursing dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUntil I moved into the adult clinic at UMMC, I had the same nurses for 18 years caring for me and I looked up to them. I wanted to do what they did. These nurses gave me hope and they treated me like family. I want to really make a difference in patients\u2019 lives, and they encouraged me to do so,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sara-johnson-laurel2-191x300.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAlso, as a young mother, Johnson said her son, Benjamin inspired her to go back to school as a 32-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven though I haven\u2019t been able to spend as much time with my family, it\u2019s going to be worth it, and my son is seeing me follow my dream. I hope it encourages him. However, none of this would be possible without Brandon. He\u2019s been the best husband through all of this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Associate Degree Nursing Program Director, Mike Cummings explained to the auditorium filled with friends and family, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to get to this day, the pinning and graduation ceremony. The next step is enduring the five-hour NCLEX licensure exam, after completing five semesters of 12-hour clinicals, six-hour labs and three-hour lecture classes. For Shelbi Sumrall of Laurel, the Covid-19 pandemic delayed her journey. Nonetheless, she\u2019s excited about embarking on a career in the E.R. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for this day for a very long time because of some setbacks. It took a little longer than expected because I had to repeat a semester, because of Covid and because of some things going on, I didn\u2019t do well in my classes,\u201d said Sumrall. \u201cHowever, I\u2019m more confident now and will be a better nurse in the long run because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dalton-jenkins-186x300.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAfter working three years at Forrest General Hospital as a medical transporter, Dalton Jenkins of Piave explained the pandemic helped him discover his purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI transported hundreds of Covid patients. That didn\u2019t bother me, it makes it more special because Covid kept some of my family and friends from seeing their loved ones. I could go into the patients\u2019 rooms and speak to them or bring something to the nurse\u2019s station for them. I got to be that \u2018somebody\u2019 when they are isolated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While his desire to be a youth pastor led him to the hospital to help people and job shadow, he realized being a nurse would be one of the paths he could take to help make a difference in someone\u2019s life. Even before reaching graduation, Jenkins\u2019 role as a Peer Mentor to the new nursing students at 糖心直播 helped him in ways he didn\u2019t foresee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing a mentor really helped because if they asked me something I didn\u2019t know, it helped me to learn. To teach, you have to know it really well, so it made me accountable. I really like being there for somebody. It also made me study that much harder,\u201d said Jenkins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through all the long, challenging hours of studying, labs and clinicals, many members of the class became emotional seeing the support from family as they received their nursing pins and diplomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Jenkins explained, \u201cThe last two years were challenging; sacrificing time with family and even sometimes church if there was test on Monday, while also trying to work. But that\u2019s what makes it all the more rewarding today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the conclusion of the Pinning and Graduation Ceremony, graduates participated in the Lighting of the Lamp, a nursing school tradition. This ceremony is a symbol of the passing on of knowledge from nursing faculty to graduates after receiving their official Nurse Pin with a Maltese Cross. For more information about the Associate Degree Nursing program at 糖心直播 check out the website, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/programs\/adn\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n Associate Degree Nursing Fall 2022 Graduates<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Destiny Bester , Picayune <\/p>\n\n\n\n Autumn Broadhead, Heidelberg <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rachel Dearman, Brandon <\/p>\n\n\n\n Courtney DuBose, Columbia <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kailyn Dukes, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kaneisha Fortenberry, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenadi Freeman, Waynesboro <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chase Hall, Hattiesburg <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rondaisha Henry, Bay Springs <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aja Hersey, Meridian <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dalton Jenkins, Richton <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sara Johnson, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kailey Lawrence, Moselle <\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlie Lowe, Monticello <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kaylyn McKinney, Raleigh <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bridgette McLain, Leakesville <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hope McNair, Collins <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kirsten Nicolosi, Hattiesburg <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lindsey Patterson, Moselle <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lauren Powell, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Annie Russ, Hattiesburg <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bethany Sanderson, Richton <\/p>\n\n\n\n Shalena Scarbrough, Wiggins<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dalton Snow, Raleigh <\/p>\n\n\n\n Shelbi Sumrall, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lauren Thompson, Laurel <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rebecca Yandell, Petal <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ELLISVILLE \u2013 Embarking on one of the most difficult professional programs, 27 糖心直播 Associate Degree Nursing students celebrated the completion of their studies at the Nurse’s Pinning and Graduation Ceremony. 糖心直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith commended the newest nurses for never \u201cvacillating from the challenge\u201d because of their grit. \u201cWe\u2019ve been educating students … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/lamp-lighting-ms-1024x915.jpg\")
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