The Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Practical Nursing Class of 2017 was honored during a pinning and awards ceremony on Aug. 1 at First Baptist Church of Orangeburg. Forty-five graduates were pinned during the ceremony.
Johnna Patrick, director of nursing at Jolley Acres Healthcare Center, was the guest speaker. Patrick is a 1998 graduate of OCtech’s Practical Nursing program and 2010 graduate of the college’s Associate Degree Nursing program. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Claflin University in 2017.
Several students were recognized for their outstanding achievements. Sharika Taylor (traditional PN program student) and Tiffany Montagnese (PN Flex program student) received the First-Place Scholastic Award; Kimberly Helton (traditional) received the Second-Place Scholastic Award; Jessica Brady (traditional) and Joshua Bowers (Flex) received the Clinical Excellence Award; Patricia Thomas (traditional) and Annette Marchant (Flex) received the Best All-Around Award; and Tanika Summers (traditional) received the Hands and Heart of Nursing Award.
OCtech’s Practical Nursing program offers two paths to becoming a licensed practical nurse. In the traditional Practical Nursing program, classes are held two days a week and labs/clinicals are held two days a week. The Practical Nursing Flex program is designed for working adults who have a medical background as a certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, medical office assistant or other healthcare worker and have completed all math, English, psychology and biology prerequisites prior to applying to OCtech’s Practical Nursing program. Flex program classes are held once a week and labs/clinicals are held once a week.
For more information about OCtech’s Practical Nursing program, visit www.octech.edu or call Rhonda Browning, traditional Practical Nursing program coordinator, at 803-535-1343 or Susan Chavis, Practical Nursing Flex program coordinator, at 803-535-1294.
