BC3’s newest nurses earn their pins
BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College proudly sent off 11 new practical nursing graduates Tuesday, Dec. 10, during a special pinning ceremony to mark their achievement.
The students were only the third class to graduate since BC3 partnered with Concordia Lutheran Ministries to reestablish it practical nursing program in 2022 in response to the growing nursing shortage.
Julia Carney, director of BC3’s practical nursing program, said resilience and strength were two of the words she’d use to describe the 2024 graduating class.
“This program is designed as a career-in-a-year, which requires much dedication, which was demonstrated by those sitting on this stage,” she told the crowd of family and friends of the new graduates in attendance. “This class sitting on the stage before you has met many forms of resilience, but through it, they became stronger and more dedicated in their pursuit of becoming a nurse.”
Each of the graduates was recognized by name before receiving their pins. Every nursing program has a unique pin, explained graduate Makenzie Reay. BC3’s nursing pin is an elliptical shape framed by laurel leaves.
“Laurel is the symbol of achievement and success,” she said. A lamp in the middle of the pin represents Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing. Under the lamp is the year 2022 to commemorate the beginning of BC3’s practical nursing program.
“The pin represents new beginnings, challenges and the journey to becoming a practical nurse,” Reay explained to the audience before issuing a parting directive to her fellow graduates. “Wear your pin with pride as you blend old traditions with your new and challenging future.”
Larkin Sollie, a practical nursing graduate from Pittsburgh, said she chose BC3 for her nursing studies because the practical nursing program is accelerated, allowing her to start her new career sooner rather than later. She also appreciated the Licensed Practical Nursing to Registered Nursing bridge program the college offers and said she plans to continue at BC3 to earn her RN degree.
“I really liked the smaller classrooms and being able to have one-on-one time with your professors,” Sollie said of her experience with the practical nursing program. Her advice to anyone considering enrolling in the nursing program is to have an open mind. “It’s intimidating and it is hard, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. It’s a good experience. Since it’s accelerated, if you find out it’s not for you, that’s OK, because you didn’t waste too much time.”
Margaret Caldwell, another practical nursing graduate from Butler, said the program was challenging but she appreciated the flexibility and support of her professors and classmates. Becoming an RN was always her goal in life, she said, and she appreciated the accelerated pace of the practical nursing program. “I’m a mom of three kids, so I wanted to ease into it. This was the perfect balance for me.”
The most challenging parts of balancing her nursing education with her family responsibilities were the twice weekly clinicals. However, Caldwell said BC3 was great about working with her to make sure she succeeded.
Another fan of BC3’s LPN to RN Bridge program, Caldwell said she plans to work as an LPN while pursuing her RN degree at the college. The bridge into the RN program is an extra eight months following successful completion of the practical nursing degree.
Caldwell said she plans to work in home health as an LPN while working through the RN program and is eager to get started. She thanked the dedicated nursing instructors who helped her realize her dream.
“All the faculty are amazing. They work with you, they really care about you as a student, and they want you to succeed.”
