(Butler, PA) One by one each crossed the stage of Butler County Community College’s Succop Theater, 55 graduates in the college’s main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., and residents of six counties who can enter the high-priority occupation in western Pennsylvania.
“Jonathan Brake,” BC3 faculty member Michelle Rock announced May 12 of the graduate from Kittanning, “will be starting his nursing adventures with Concordia Lutheran Ministries.”
“Shyniah Watson,” BC3 faculty member Melissa Griffie announced of the graduate from Mars, “has accepted a position at Butler Memorial Hospital in the critical care float pool.”
“Natasha Myers,” BC3 faculty member Amanda Gillespie announced of the graduate from Jamestown, “has accepted a position at Meadville Medical Center.”
“This program,” Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of BC3, told the Succop Theater audience exceeding 400, “best exemplifies our role as the community’s college, producing graduates in a high-priority occupation … and coming to our communities in their greatest time of need, during a global pandemic, by producing such excellent nurses to care for their loved ones.”
Graduates in BC3’s main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., completed the program during a COVID-19 pandemic in which they wore face masks or face shields and personal protective equipment, said Dr. Patty Annear, dean of the college’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.
Graduates live in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties and received in Succop Theater on May 12 the nursing pin that signifies their completion of the college’s 70-credit associate in applied science degree career program.
Joy Davis, of Harrisville, has accepted a position at Allegheny Health Network Grove City; Brake, Crystal Dull, of Vandergrift, and Ruth Ann Bradford, of Worthington, at Concordia Lutheran Ministries through the health care provider’s new tuition assistance program with BC3; and others, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
Registered nurse a high-priority occupation
Registered nurse is a high-priority occupation in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.
A 9 percent increase in jobs is expected through 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BC3’s main campus Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., received clinical training at health care providers that include Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health, Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Butler Memorial Hospital, and Allegheny Health Network’s Allegheny Valley Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital, said Heather Darrington, a BC3 faculty member.
They also completed 96-hour preceptorships at health care providers that include UPMC Jameson, VA Butler Health Care and Punxsutawney Area Hospital, Darrington said.
“Everyone I spoke to already has a job lined up.”
“It’s unlimited options right now.”
Retirement risk for registered nurses in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties is high, according to Emsi, an Idaho research company that conducts economic impact analyses for educational institutions.
Emsi reports 2,094 employees identified as registered nurses in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties who in 2022 are 55 or older.
Signing bonuses for BC3 grads reach $10K
“Everyone I spoke to already has a job lined up,” said Michele Gaiser, of Evans City, a BC3 Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., graduate who has accepted a position at Allegheny General Hospital.
Thirty-two Class of 2022 Nursing, R.N., students reported April 25 that they would graduate debt-free from BC3. Students also reported April 25 job offers that ranged in hourly rates from $28.90 to $34.69 and signing bonuses reaching $10,000.
“It’s unlimited options right now,” said Chelsie Kerns, of Grove City, who has accepted a position at Butler Memorial Hospital and will continue to work at Grove Manor in Grove City.
BC3 Nursing, R.N., graduates “can certainly have their pick,” Annear said. “And that was demonstrated by the announcements as to where the students would be working.”
To attain licensure, graduates of BC3’s Nursing, R.N., program take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. An average of 90 percent of BC3’s first-time NCLEX-RN test-takers in the past three years have been successful, Annear said.
“When it comes to the state boards,” Gaiser said, “I am going to pass the state boards.”
Added Nicole Miller, of Butler, who has accepted a position in the critical care float pool at Butler Memorial Hospital: “A lot of the hiring managers actually mentioned more than once they will choose the BC3 applicant over other programs because we are so well-prepared.”
College honors Larrick, Shaffer
BC3 presented May 12 the second Autumn Rose Cooper Nursing Award to graduate Jessica Hoover, of Freedom. The award established by Cooper, a 2018 BC3 Nursing, R.N., graduate and registered nurse with UPMC Health Systems, recognizes clinical excellence and funds NCLEX-RN fees.
BC3 also honored the late Janice Phillips Larrick and the late former state Sen. Tim Shaffer.
Larrick passed away at 96 on March 20 and Shaffer at 76 on May 3.
The Janice Phillips Larrick Charitable Trust in July 2017 committed $1 million to the BC3 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on BC3’s main campus.
Shaffer in September 2017 committed $1 million to the BC3 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building and created BC3’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health.
The college in late October held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 25,000-square-foot facility that will feature a hospital-like interior with simulated medical-surgery and ICU rooms and will provide an immersive learning environment.
Concordia leader: BC3 grads “proud finishers”
Like the Janice Phillips Larrick Charitable Trust and Tim Shaffer, Concordia Lutheran Ministries also committed $1 million to the BC3 Education Foundation toward construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building and as part of an up to $10 million partnership with BC3.
The partnership also helped to create a practical nursing certificate program that debuted on BC3’s main campus in January; expanded enrollment in BC3’s Nursing, R.N., program; and established a tuition assistance program that allows BC3 nursing students to complete their program tuition-free and provides a secure position with Concordia Lutheran Ministries after graduation.
Concordia Lutheran Ministries has over the years hired more than 150 graduates of BC3’s selective-admissions program in Nursing, R.N., said Keith Frndak, president and CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries and guest speaker in Succop Theater on May 12.
“It’s pretty hard just to get into this program,” Frndak said. “You sit here tonight as proud finishers, accomplishing the goal of finishing a very difficult program. I consider it to be an academic marathon.”
Graduates in BC3 @ Brockway’s Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., received pins during a ceremony May 9 at BC3’s additional location in Jefferson County. The 16 graduates in BC3 @ Brockway’s Class of 2022 live in Clarion, Clearfield, Elk and Jefferson counties.
Applications for fall 2023 consideration in BC3’s Nursing, R.N., program on its main campus and at BC3 @ Brockway will be accepted beginning Aug. 1.
BC3 main campus Nursing, R.N., graduates from six counties
Graduates from Armstrong County in BC3’s Class of 2022 in Nursing, R.N., are Bailey Anthony, Kittanning; Ruth Ann Bradford, Worthington; Jonathan Brake, Kittanning; Mackenzie Jacobs, Dayton; Colleen McGarrity, Ford City; and Abigail Branan, Manorville.
Graduates from Beaver County are Allison Chronister, Fombell; and Jessica Hoover, Freedom.
Graduates from Butler County are Butler residents Heather Bane, Brianna Collins, Kaley Fitzpatrick, Holly Goettler, Krista Hartle, Casey Kretzer, Victoria Lassinger, Nicole Miller, Julia Mincer, Lauren Reddick, Bethany Rhodaberger, Beth Rhodaberger, Emma Scuoteguazza, Kassandra Smith, Clairise Snyder, Lindsey Stover, Sarah Vasas, Julia Williamson and Jaela Yohe.
Graduates from Butler County are Rachel Boltz, Carrie Dingel and Brooke Dingel, all of Cabot; Rhiannon Morin, Cranberry Township; and Michaela Buxton, Michele Gaiser and Bailey Lewis, all of Evans City.
Graduates from Butler County are Abigail Kingerski, Harmony; Joy Davis and Alexandra Gray, both of Harrisville; and Chelsea Boskovic and Shyniah Watson, both of Mars.
Graduates from Butler County are Megan Wilson, Prospect; Taylor Gilliland, Renfrew; Kylie Godlewski and Veda Reiser, both of Sarver; Maryna Boychenko, Seven Fields; Shannon Glenn, Slippery Rock; Lauren Wiles, West Sunbury; and Marcie Delaney, Zelienople.
Graduates from Lawrence County are Skylar Bowers, Volant; Jennifer Cassandro, Ellwood City; and Miranda Sadler, New Castle.
Graduates from Mercer County are Lily Keller, Sandy Lake; Chelsie Kerns and Megan Meyerl, both of Grove City; and Natasha Myers, Jamestown.
Graduate Crystal Dull is from Vandergrift, Westmoreland County.
