  {"id":1824,"date":"2020-11-20T15:43:35","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T15:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/?p=1824"},"modified":"2020-11-20T15:43:35","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T15:43:35","slug":"jones-colleges-associate-degree-nurse-grads-are-covid-19-prepared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/news\/jones-colleges-associate-degree-nurse-grads-are-covid-19-prepared\/","title":{"rendered":"Âé¶¹Ö±²¥\u2019s Associate Degree Nurse grads are \u201cCOVID-19\u201d prepared"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>ELLISVILLE \u2013 Observing CDC protocols, 41 Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Associate Degree Nursing graduates celebrated their successful completion of the five-semester program with the traditional, Nurses Pinning Ceremony in the Bobcat Stadium\/Sim Cooley Football Field. Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ President, Dr. Jesse Smith noted to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dr-smith-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1829 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dr-smith-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-241x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dr-smith-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dr-smith-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-768x957.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dr-smith-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-822x1024.jpg 822w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px\" \/><\/a>day\u2019s celebration in the football stadium was an odd place for these nursing graduates, but it is also very appropriate considering their adaptable attitudes have allowed them to be successful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it were easy, we\u2019d all be nurses. You have chosen the most noble profession we can teach at Jones. We are honored you have made it through and are celebrating today. It makes me very proud that the most important thing we do at the college, you have done very well, and we thank you. We know you are going to impact so many lives,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n<p>Completing the rigorous but rewarding nursing program was a dream come true after two years of sacrifice, dedication and perseverance for Keira James of Jackson. One of the biggest challenges for James was juggling her responsibilities at home and school.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSwitching to online learning while balancing a life at home with my husband and young toddler was difficult. However, my instructors were so helpful by providing different time slots where we could join lecture conferences at our convenience because so many of us had busy home lives,\u201d said James. \u201cAs for working amidst the pandemic, I feel a little more at ease going into a hospital setting with prior education and experience with pandemic protocols and seeing it first-hand. COVID-19 is still concerning, especially as the numbers are back on the rise, but I feel more prepared to help in this pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The COVID-19 virus changed these graduates\u2019 normal course of study, and everything else, midway through the A. D. N. program. While it threw a few off-track, for Hannah Lott of Petal, it forced her to find a new way of learning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough online testing didn\u2019t numerically affect my grades, it raised my stress level knowing that I was not able to physically write on a test anymore. We also transitioned into online lectures instead of class lectures, which took a toll on me as well as some of my classmates. However, I believe I adapted very well given the circumstances, and I think the pandemic prepared me for the future and being comfortable with the \u2018unknown\u2019 and just learning how to quickly adjust and adapt. In the end, Jones\u2019 nursing instructors and South Central Regional Medical Center provided me with the necessary tools and guidelines needed to help protect myself and others from this virus,\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Being flexible is something graduate, Laura Ellerman of Hattiesburg said she learned as she navigated through the changes the COVID-19 protocols mandated. As both faculty and students worked toward accomplishing mutual goals to attain clinical experience, creative problem solving became more necessary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaving evening clinicals is just one example of how we had to be flexible to meet the educational and clinical requirements for this challenging program,\u201d said Ellerman. \u201cThe JC A.D. Nursing program not only taught us these abilities, but they also put them in action with us, in real-time.\u00a0 I will be eternally grateful to the JC COVID-19 Task Force and faculty and SCRMC for diligently and successfully creating, monitoring and maintaining environments that allowed our program to continue to thrive during these trying times.\u00a0 It was not an easy feat to accomplish!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Associate Degree Nursing Program Director, Erin Knight, MSN, RN, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1830 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-243x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-243x300.jpg 243w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-768x949.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark-829x1024.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/erin-knight-speaking-ms-by-megan-clark.jpg 1903w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/><\/a>acknowledged there have been many changes but these graduates have embraced the changes and thrived.\u00a0 Nurses are well-equipped to best embrace an ever-changing environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe year 2020 has been such a challenge for all of us in so many ways.\u00a0 We are proud that these students have embraced those challenges and are now able to move out into the workforce.\u00a0 We know they are ready to take NCLEX-RN and be at the bedside taking care of patients where they will make a difference every day and to every patient they encounter,\u201d said Knight.<\/p>\n<p>At the Pinning Ceremony, five graduates were recognized by Knight for their perfect attendance and dedication. Jasmine Hamilton of McComb, Breanna Helms of Hattiesburg, Harleigh Howell of Ellisville, Madison Odom of Ellisville, and Sarah Sherman of New Hebron.<\/p>\n<p>JC nurse graduates, Brianna Helms, Lori Jones of Hattiesburg, Hannah Lott of Petal, Hannah Smith of Heidelberg, Dalton Sumrall of Moselle and Kaelin Vegas of Columbia were also recognized as the newest members of the Gamma Nu chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1828 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small-e1605886919260-1024x651.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small-e1605886919260-1024x651.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small-e1605886919260-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small-e1605886919260-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/group-pic-with-lamps-small-e1605886919260.jpg 1916w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ELLISVILLE \u2013 Observing CDC protocols, 41 Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Associate Degree Nursing graduates celebrated their successful completion of the five-semester program with the traditional, Nurses Pinning Ceremony in the Bobcat Stadium\/Sim Cooley Football Field. Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ President, Dr. Jesse Smith noted today\u2019s celebration in the football stadium was an odd place for these nursing graduates, but &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/news\/jones-colleges-associate-degree-nurse-grads-are-covid-19-prepared\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Âé¶¹Ö±²¥\u2019s Associate Degree Nurse grads are \u201cCOVID-19\u201d prepared&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1824"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1824"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1831,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1824\/revisions\/1831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}