Graduates
of the Reynolds Community College Practical Nursing Certificate program
recently participated in their recognition pinning ceremony on the Parham Road
Campus. The ceremony opened with a welcome by Reynolds President Dr. Gary
Rhodes, followed by encouraging words from keynote speaker Charles Smith, MS,
RN, Dean of Health Sciences at Rappahannock Community College.
“Create a future that will allow you in 40 years
to say nursing was the best decision I ever made and create a legacy that others
can say you made a difference in their lives,” said Smith. “Use your gifts wisely
and be proud to be a Reynolds graduate ready to face an uncertain but exciting
world.”
The Practical Nursing Certificate is designed to
prepare a person to be an integral member of a nursing or health care team. A
practical nurse's duties include direct care for individual patients
experiencing common, well-defined health problems with predictable outcomes in
a structured health care setting with supervision. They are usually the
first medical professional to work with a patient with targeted care to include
giving medication as prescribed by a physician, taking vital signs, such as
blood pressure, temperature, weight and basic wound care including cleaning and
bandaging injured areas.
With completion of the program, these student
are eligible to take the national examination for licensure as a Practical
Nurse (LPN).
