Ivy Tech practical nursing students employed before graduation

BLOOMINGTON – On December 16, 2016, 11 Ivy Tech practical nursing students graduated, and the majority found employment before graduation. Practical nursing students will take the NCLEX-PN exam to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). Ivy Tech Bloomington’s LPN pass rates have been 100 percent from 2011 to 2015.

Practical nursing graduates are employed at Autumn Hills Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, Dermatology Center of Southern Indiana, Garden Villa, Hearthstone Health Campus, IU Health Bloomington Hospital, IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians, Paoli Health and Living Community, and Premier Healthcare among others.

Avery Frederick is employed part time at IU Health Bloomington Hospital. “I chose Ivy Tech because I knew I wanted a lot of hands on experience to prepare me for my future career,” said Frederick. “I have always loved helping people and I wanted a way to be able to help as many people as possible.”

Frederick’s ultimate goal is to work in a long-term care facility. “I have found my calling with the older adult population and I love being able to bring smiles to their faces,” she said.

Frederick credits Pennie Rogers, nursing assistant professor, for helping her realize her passion for long-term care. “Mrs. Rogers has such a passion for what she does,” said Frederick. “I always had a love for long-term care but she really inspired me to go in that direction. All of the teachers are absolutely amazing. They are all more than happy to help you when you need it and they all have so much knowledge and love for nursing.”

Frederick says she plans to continue her education at Ivy Tech in the LPN to ASN transfer program in order to upgrade her credentials. Graduates of the ASN program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam in order to become registered nurses.

Jama Thomas also plans to continue her education at Ivy Tech in the LPN to ASN transfer program and become a registered nurse. Thomas received the Annie and Lee Marchant-Kay Leach Endowed Scholarship for the fall 2016 semester. She is currently employed at IU Health Bloomington in the emergency department as a patient care technician.

“I would like to work in the emergency department after obtaining my registered nursing degree, so I feel it would be most beneficial to stay as a patient care technician in the emergency department until then,” said Thomas.

Thomas chose Ivy Tech’s nursing program for its reputation and found her instructors to be caring and supportive. “I chose Ivy Tech because I heard all through high school about how great and successful the nursing school was in Bloomington,” said Thomas. “Every single professor I had has been super influential to see how much passion they have for nursing and how much they cared for each student in the program. I felt that instead of them teaching an entire class and not knowing anything about the students, they were teaching me personally and would do anything to help in any way they could.”

Ivy Tech spring classes begin Tuesday, January 17. Visit www.ivytech.edu/applynow, stop into Ivy Tech Bloomington located at 200 Daniels Way, or call (812) 330-6013. Ivy Tech is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.