Three East Central College Rolla graduates from the LPN to RN Bridge program were honored for their exceptional performance in clinical settings and academics. Morgan Buffington, Savannah Gregory, and Tabitha Martin received recognition on Dec. 10 during the program’s pinning ceremony, which celebrates licensed practical nurses who continued their education to become registered nurses.
This year’s guest speaker was Leslie Crabtree, Clinical Nurse Educator at Mercy Hospital Washington and a Class of 2022 ECC LPN-to-RN graduate. The ECC Rolla LPN to RN Bridge Class of 2024 includes Priscilla Brandhorst, Kimberly Bridgeman, Morgan Buffington, Savannah Gregory, Caitlin Hughes, Faith Kelley, Tabitha Martin, Samantha Pointer, and Carley Tritch. Awards of Excellence As part of the ceremony, graduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements in clinical and academic settings. • Savannah Gregory received the ECC Outstanding Nursing Student Award, showcasing her commitment, adaptability, and integrity. Savannah has been described as highly organized and determined, excelling in clinical settings and seeking unique learning opportunities. Her preceptor noted that she is a “phenomenal addition” to the nursing profession.
• Tabitha Martin was honored with the Mercy Hospital Spirit of Clinical Excellence Award. Tabitha’s quiet focus and compassionate care have left a lasting impression on clinical staff. Her ability to prioritize patient-centered care with confidence and organizational skill distinguishes her as a future asset to any nursing team. • Morgan Buffington was recognized with the Phelps Health Spirit of Clinical Excellence Award. Morgan’s dedication to quality, compassionate care and her willingness to embrace challenges were celebrated. Her preceptor described her as a “good team player” who skillfully translates knowledge into practice.
Three East Central College Rolla nursing graduates were recognized for outstanding work in clinicals and in the classroom.
Kathrine Crider, Jessica Veloz and Brianna Courtney each were recognized Dec. 12 during a pinning ceremony for LPN to RN Bridge graduates.
There were 11 nursing graduates taking part in the pinning ceremony, which is held to recognize licensed practical nurses who continued their education to become registered nurses:
Stevie German, Shelly Gibson, Tina Feth, Jessica Veloz, Amy Hiatt, Kathrine Crider, Shelby Marler, Brianna Courtney, Emily Chastain, Tara Smith and Tanya Bausch.
Outstanding Student Nurse
Kathrine Crider received the ECC Outstanding Student Nurse award.
“She is an extraordinary person who is organized, determined, efficient, and well rounded. She is willing to adapt and jump into new learning experiences and push herself to have clinical experiences that are different than was she is used to,” Crider’s nomination read.
“She seeks out learning experiences that will help her grow and succeed in the field of nursing. She is highly successful in the clinical setting. She is a phenomenal addition to this clinical rotation and is always willing to ask questions to improve her learning.
“She is kind and willing to help a fellow student when needed. For these reasons and many more, this student will succeed and be a wonderful asset to the profession of nursing.”
To be considered for the Outstanding Nursing Student award, ECC has had to make a significant difference in the life of the student.
Spirit of Clinical Excellence
The awards for Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing are presented to graduating nurses who demonstrate characteristics of caring and compassion, the spirit of inquiry, exceptional critical thinking and decision making and have superior organizational skills and the ability to effectively prioritize.
MoBap Spirit of Excellence
Brianna Courtney received the Missouri Baptist Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award because she is a great example of a compassionate nurse both in the classroom and clinical setting.
“She has excelled with showing care and compassion from day one. She has incredible critical thinking and is able to successfully prioritize all the many demands of life and nursing school,” her nomination read.
“This student was great to work with and is very eager to learn and doesn’t shy away from the new or intimidating stuff. This student was very comfortable at the bedside and took great care when communicating with patients. For these reasons and for many more there is no question that this student will make an excellent RN and be a lovely addition to any nursing unit.”
Phelps Spirit of Excellence
Jessica Veloz is the recipient of the Phelps Health Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award due to her compassion, commitment, eagerness, and integrity to the profession of nursing.
“She is quietly assertive and develops a rapport with her patients, their families, and the staff making sure that their needs were met. She did not shy away from challenges, but rather exceled when the opportunities arose,” states her nomination form.
“She has displayed an abundance of compassion and patient- centered care in all areas of clinical rotations. She is dedicated to quality, and safe patient care, and insists on the patients receiving this. She does a great job with putting knowledge into clinical practice and she is a good team player. Her kind, positive attitude, desire to seek out learning experiences, and following protocol are great attributes that she possesses.”
To learn more about the ECC Nursing and Allied Health program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/nursing/, or contact Nancy Mitchell at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu.
Back row, from left, are Nancy Mitchell, Dean of Health Sciences & Director of Nursing, Joannie Blakely, Rolla nursing coordinator, Stevie German, Shelly Gibson, Tina Feth, Jessica Veloz, Amy Hiatt, and Julie Chirban, LPN to RN Bridge instructor. Front row., from left, are Lavonda Lawson, Rolla administrative assistant, Kathrine Crider, Shelby Marler, Brianna Courtney, Emily Chastain, Tara Smith, Tanya Bausch, Trista Elias, nursing faculty.
The East Central College Nursing Program has extended its deadline for the LPN-RN Bridge program, located at our Rolla North location.
The Licensed Practicing Nurse to Registered Nurse Bridge program is an opportunity for LPNs to gain the skills and knowledge to continue their education and become RNs.
The deadline for applications has been extended to Sept. 1, and classes will begin January 2023 and finish in December 2023.
The evening and every-other-weekend format will allow for LPNs to continue working while taking courses toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.
For more information, contact Nancy Mitchell at 636-584-6616 or Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu; or call the Rolla North Nursing office at 573-202-6950.
Courtney Smith has juggled her family life with her working life for years. In 2015, she decided to add even more to her plate – she started her journey to become a Registered Nurse through the LPN to RN Bridge Program at ECC. It’s something she realized she wanted to be after a memorable experience when she was pregnant with her son.
“This nurse was spectacular. She was my advocate and my comedic relief,” Smith said, “I can’t say enough about her.”
While the Bridge program is challenging, it caters to working students and students with families.
“It is designed to provide students who hold a Missouri Licensed Practical Nurse license the educational mobility to complete the RN classes in a format that specifically meets their needs,” said ECC Nursing and Allied Health Division Chair Robyn Walter.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Smith became one of 18 student nurses in the ECC Bridge Class of 2016 who were awarded their pin for nursing. “This has been a long road coming,” said Smith.
Another student, Kathryn Cervantes, was inspired by her mother to become a nurse. “She brought my siblings and me to the long-term care facility where she worked many times, and I saw how much the residents loved her,” she said.
For Cervantes, nursing has become a family tradition. “ECC taught my two older sisters and me to be excellent nurses. I feel so blessed to have learned from the incredible women that run this program,” she said.
Jessica Steele, meanwhile, has been involved with nursing for the past 13 years. “I became a LPN in 2003 because I wanted to help people, along with my need to feed, house and clothe my two sons,” Steele explained. “I earned other healthcare degrees in 2006, 2009 and 2012. In 2014, my husband and I moved to Rolla where I began my pursuit of a degree to become a RN.”
Steele believes she speaks for all the LPN to RN Bridge Program students when describing the pinning ceremony.
“It’s a tangible symbol of all the hard work and late hours that have guided us on this amazing journey,” Steele said.
The ECC Bridge Ceremony was held at the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center at the ECC Union campus. At the event, student Jessica Steele won the Outstanding Student Award. Karissa Rollins won the Clinical Excellence Award.
