ELLISVILLE – Embarking on one of the most difficult professional programs, 27 Jones College Associate Degree Nursing students celebrated the completion of their studies at the Nurse’s Pinning and Graduation Ceremony. Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith commended the newest nurses for never “vacillating from the challenge” because of their grit.
“We’ve been educating students since 1911 and there is nothing harder than what these students have been through,” said Smith. “They have the desire, the grit and certainly the aptitude but they also have the support from you, friends and family, an entire network around them. Without you, they (the nurses) would not be where they are today.”
Ironically, a medical condition almost kept the class president, Kaneisha Fortenberry from realizing her dream of being a nurse. The Laurel resident began having unexplainable cardiac problems over the last three years, which led to visiting doctors from New Orleans to Jackson. However, she never wavered.
“It can be disheartening. I was almost unable to see this day but we’re overcoming,” said Fortenberry. “I’ll be starting in the cardiac bypass nursing unit and hopefully be a labor and delivery nurse. That’s my dream!”
After 10 years working in an office because of a medical condition, Sara Johnson of Laurel also thought her desire to be a nurse would be impossible to achieve. At 18 months of age, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a lung disease which affects breathing and overall health. In 2019, a new medicine changed her life drastically, allowing the Laurel resident to reconsider following her nursing dream.
“Until I moved into the adult clinic at UMMC, I had the same nurses for 18 years caring for me and I looked up to them. I wanted to do what they did. These nurses gave me hope and they treated me like family. I want to really make a difference in patients’ lives, and they encouraged me to do so,” said Johnson.
Also, as a young mother, Johnson said her son, Benjamin inspired her to go back to school as a 32-year-old.
“Even though I haven’t been able to spend as much time with my family, it’s going to be worth it, and my son is seeing me follow my dream. I hope it encourages him. However, none of this would be possible without Brandon. He’s been the best husband through all of this!”
Associate Degree Nursing Program Director, Mike Cummings explained to the auditorium filled with friends and family, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to get to this day, the pinning and graduation ceremony. The next step is enduring the five-hour NCLEX licensure exam, after completing five semesters of 12-hour clinicals, six-hour labs and three-hour lecture classes. For Shelbi Sumrall of Laurel, the Covid-19 pandemic delayed her journey. Nonetheless, she’s excited about embarking on a career in the E.R.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time because of some setbacks. It took a little longer than expected because I had to repeat a semester, because of Covid and because of some things going on, I didn’t do well in my classes,” said Sumrall. “However, I’m more confident now and will be a better nurse in the long run because of it.”
After working three years at Forrest General Hospital as a medical transporter, Dalton Jenkins of Piave explained the pandemic helped him discover his purpose.
“I transported hundreds of Covid patients. That didn’t bother me, it makes it more special because Covid kept some of my family and friends from seeing their loved ones. I could go into the patients’ rooms and speak to them or bring something to the nurse’s station for them. I got to be that ‘somebody’ when they are isolated.”
While his desire to be a youth pastor led him to the hospital to help people and job shadow, he realized being a nurse would be one of the paths he could take to help make a difference in someone’s life. Even before reaching graduation, Jenkins’ role as a Peer Mentor to the new nursing students at Jones College helped him in ways he didn’t foresee.
“Being a mentor really helped because if they asked me something I didn’t know, it helped me to learn. To teach, you have to know it really well, so it made me accountable. I really like being there for somebody. It also made me study that much harder,” said Jenkins.
Through all the long, challenging hours of studying, labs and clinicals, many members of the class became emotional seeing the support from family as they received their nursing pins and diplomas.
As Jenkins explained, “The last two years were challenging; sacrificing time with family and even sometimes church if there was test on Monday, while also trying to work. But that’s what makes it all the more rewarding today.”
At the conclusion of the Pinning and Graduation Ceremony, graduates participated in the Lighting of the Lamp, a nursing school tradition. This ceremony is a symbol of the passing on of knowledge from nursing faculty to graduates after receiving their official Nurse Pin with a Maltese Cross. For more information about the Associate Degree Nursing program at Jones College check out the website, https://www.jcjc.edu/programs/adn/
Associate Degree Nursing Fall 2022 Graduates
Destiny Bester , Picayune
Autumn Broadhead, Heidelberg
Rachel Dearman, Brandon
Courtney DuBose, Columbia
Kailyn Dukes, Laurel
Kaneisha Fortenberry, Laurel
Kenadi Freeman, Waynesboro
Chase Hall, Hattiesburg
Rondaisha Henry, Bay Springs
Aja Hersey, Meridian
Dalton Jenkins, Richton
Sara Johnson, Laurel
Kailey Lawrence, Moselle
Charlie Lowe, Monticello
Kaylyn McKinney, Raleigh
Bridgette McLain, Leakesville
Hope McNair, Collins
Kirsten Nicolosi, Hattiesburg
Lindsey Patterson, Moselle
Lauren Powell, Laurel
Annie Russ, Hattiesburg
Bethany Sanderson, Richton
Shalena Scarbrough, Wiggins
Dalton Snow, Raleigh
Shelbi Sumrall, Laurel
Lauren Thompson, Laurel
Rebecca Yandell, Petal