Nearly 70 students have completed their studies at the Aiken Technical College School of Nursing. A pinning ceremony was held for the graduates who received an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a diploma in nursing, or a Patient Care Technician (PCT) Certificate.
A January 2024 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (www.uschamber.com/workforce/nursing-workforce-data-center-a-national-nursing-crisis) pointed to the ongoing need to train people to join the nursing field. Looking specifically at registered nurses (RN), the report projects at least 193,000 open positions will need to be filled between 2022 and 2032. However, only 177,000 RNs are expected to enter the workforce in those years.
“Here at Aiken Tech, we really took all of those factors into consideration,” Dr. Hannah Williams, Dean of the School of Nursing, told ABD. “We made multiple pathways for our students. For example, we have those students who are in the PCT program. We have revamped that program to where those students can easily transition into the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) role. And then we have our LPN to RN Evening Program, which makes it super easy for those students to graduate from PCT, to go to LPN, from LPN to the ADN program.”
For April Powell, also graduating with an associate’s degree, entering the nursing field was a family affair.
“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse since I was little, watching my grandma be a nurse growing up, she was my mentor, and I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said.
It was appropriate that her grandmother, Sylvia Scott, attended the pinning ceremony.
“I’m very proud of her. She’s the third or fourth one in my family that’s graduated with nursing degrees,” said Scott. “I think it’s a wonderful trade. You have to love people to go into that and nothing could make you feel any better than making a sick person feel better.”
Scott is the voice of experience. Prior to retiring, she spent 40 years in nursing, 32 of those years working in the emergency room at Aiken Regional Medical Center.
The U.S. Chamber report also compared the unemployment rate for nurses to the national rate. In 2022, the national unemployment rate for nurses was 1.6%. The national rate was more than double that at 3.7%.
Powell and Fountain understand nursing can give them a steady career. Both already have job offers.
