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TCAT Dickson Pins Practical Nursing Grads
by: Janine Wine
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
TCAT Dickson
DICKSON, TN: One dozen women from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Dickson (TCAT Dickson) Practical Nursing Program were recently pinned in a ceremony honoring their educational accomplishments and commitment to care for others.
TCAT Dickson President Laura Travis provided opening remarks telling the graduates and their families the nursing program was dear to her heart. “My background is in nursing, and I still remember my pinning ceremony. It is still very special to me and one of my greatest accomplishments,” Travis said.
TCAT Dickson’s Director of Nursing and Healthcare Careers Stephanie Murphy told of sleepless nights, countless hours of studying, and the demanding patients each student had cared for to make it to pinning day.
Practical Nursing is one of TCAT Dickson’s Career in a Year offerings. Students enrolled in the program spend an entire year learning math, nutrition, pharmacology, medical/surgical nursing, maternity nursing, and mental health in addition to completing clinicals where they spend nearly half of their total 1,296 program hours receiving hands-on technical training in local healthcare facilities caring for real patients.
Students Ariel Erwin and Mimmie Gracelyn Harris were recognized for being inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). Both Erwin and Harris maintained an A average, attended at least 95 percent of their total hours, and were nominated by their instructors for this honor.
Bladin Echoe Burkey was applauded for being the only member of the class to not miss a single hour and receive perfect attendance.
Jordan Anne Thomas was tapped with the Outstanding Clinical Performance Award for her outstanding efforts to interact with both healthcare professionals and patients.
The entire cohort voted for Sarina Christine Mejer to receive the Peer Award as the classmate they would most want to care for them or a member of their families.
President Travis congratulated each student before they were pinned by their Practical Nursing instructors with a pin depicting an image of an oil lamp like the one carried by Florence Nightingale and symbolizing the hope and comfort nurses bring to their patients.
Students also received candles and a copy of Nightingale’s Oath which they recited in unison at the close of the ceremony.
TCAT Dickson offers Practical Nursing programs at three locations including the main campus in Dickson, and extension campuses in Clarksville and Franklin.
TCAT Dickson is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and complies with non-discrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA. Located on Highway 46 in Dickson, the technical training college also has extension campuses in Clarksville, and Franklin. Additional information about the school is located at www.TCATDickson.edu.
Congratulations to these TCAT Dickson Practical Nursing students who received their nursing pins recently during a special ceremony. Pictured here are front row from left: Practical Nursing Adjunct Instructor Angela Burns, Elizabeth Stiles, Jordan Thomas - Outstanding Clinical Performance Award winner, Mimmie Harris, and third term Practical Nursing Instructor Kristen Moffitt. Middle row from left: first term Practical Nursing Instructor Kathy Suggs, Ariel Erwin, Hannah Heithcock, Taylor Heath, Alexis Dickerson, and second term Practical Nursing Instructor Megan Tomlin-Tidwell. Back row from left: Tiffany Ortega, Sarina Mejer - Peer Award winner, Nikki Kreiss, Bladin Burkey - Perfect Attendance Award recipient, and Meagen Hagler.
Director of Nursing and Healthcare Careers Stephanie Murphy
Pracitcal Nursing Class of Summer 2024
Practical Nursing Class of Summer 2024
TCAT Dickson Practical Nursing Instructors
TCAT Dickson President Laura Travis presenting Jordan Thomas with the Outstanding Clinical Performance Award.
TCAT Dickson President Laura Travis presenting the Peer Award to Sarina Mejer.
Practical Nursing Graduate Bladin Burkey being pinned by Instructor Megan Tomlin-Tidwell as Instructor Kristen Moffitt watches. Burkey recived the only Perfect Attendance Award in her cohort.
Practical Nursing Class of Summer 2024 reciting the Nightingale Pledge.
TCAT Dickson Practical Nursing Graduates pose with awards. Front row from left: Jordan Thomas - Outstanding Clinical Performance Award, Sarina Mejer - Peer Award, and Bladin Burkey - Perfect Attendance. Back row from left: Megan Tomlin-Tidwell - 2nd Term PN Instructor, Kristen Moffitt - 3rd Term PN Instructor, Angela Burns - 1st Term PN Adjunct Instructor, Kathy Sugg - 1st Term PN Instructor, and Stephanie Murphy - Director of Nursing and Healthcare Careers.
