50 GRADUATE FROM BLINN VOCATIONAL NURSING PROGRAM

  

Fifty students graduated recently from the Blinn College District’s Vocational Nursing Program.

Twenty-four students graduated from the program at the RELLIS Campus in Bryan and 26 graduated from the Brenham Campus program.

The 10-month program includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical training. Clinical rotations are held at hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout the area. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, almost 98% of Blinn’s graduates from the program during the past three years have found jobs in the profession.

“The curriculum is very challenging, and it was even more challenging because of the pandemic,” Program Director Michelle Marburger said. “I’m very proud of the dedication our students and faculty showed. They stayed focused, and students graduated on time, which I think is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved with the program.”

RELLIS Campus graduates were Claire Alfano (Houston), Melanie Carson (Bryan), Karla Chacon (College Station), Chima Chuku (Caldwell), Savannah Clark (Mumford), Yanyan Du (College Station), Jessica Emola (Bryan), Haley Hallford (Caldwell), Meagan Hamma (Bryan), Mahala Harper (College Station), Shelby Hronek (Bryan), Selena Lino-Flores (Bryan), Arlethe Escobedo Martinez (Bryan), Emilee McDaniel (College Station), Mayra Mireles (College Station), Cherokee Nash (Navasota), Misty Price (Snook), Elizabeth Trevino (College Station), Taydra Sanders (College Station), Jazem Saripada (College Station), Keandre Shirley (College Station), Jamaniesha Whaley (Madisonville), Andrea Wilson (College Station), and Emily Winstead (Marlin).

Brenham Campus graduates were Kaylee Bernick (Brenham), TreAndranique Green (Bryan), Brittany Greene (Houston), Nakyshia Guyton (College Station), Mallory Hanath (Chappell Hill), Sydni Havel (Giddings), Brooke Hynes (Brenham), Shelby Jones-Dunk (Ellinger), Latajez Josey (Sealy), Jaquel London (Hempstead), Monica Million (Somerville), Kayden Pieper (Brenham), Lisa Prestwood (Brenham), Jessica Rodriguez-Salas (Brenham), Taylor Singer (Bellville), Deja Tolbert (Bellville), Christina Trevino (Somerville), Dulce Valles (Brenham), Brooke Vinklarek (La Grange), Nickoya Virgil (Katy), Lydia Weigelt (Brenham), Sarah Wiltshire (College Station), Alencia Woodberry (Brenham), Shelby Wunderlich (Weimar), Ashley Yantz (Giddings), and Daniela Zamora (Brenham).

Program graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and the Nursing Jurisprudence Examination and are considered licensed vocational nurses after passing both exams.

Blinn’s Vocational Nursing Program graduates consistently post first-attempt passing rates well above the Texas and national averages. From 2015-19, 97% of the graduates from the Brenham Campus program passed the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt. During that same time period, 94% of the Bryan Campus graduates passed the test on their first try. The statewide average from 2015-19 was approximately 88%, and the national average approximately 84%.

Graduates who pass the state board exams are qualified to work in a variety of settings, including home health care, dialysis, hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices.

“After they pass their exams, many of these graduates will be entering the front lines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Marburger said. “We’re confident that the training they’ve received through our program will give them the tools they need.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 annual median pay for a vocational nurse was $47,480.

For more information regarding Blinn’s Vocational Nursing Program, visit www.blinn.edu/vocational-nursing.

(COURTESY: Richard Bray, Blinn Information)