57 Students Earn Pins from LCCC’s Nursing Program

Lorain County Community College honored 57 associate degree graduates of the LCCC’s nursing program with a pinning ceremony on Monday, December 16. The Stocker Arts Center’s Hoke Theatre was filled with prideful cheers from family and friends of the graduates as they crossed the stage to receive a blessing of the hands and their nursing pins, signifying each graduate’s official acceptance into the profession of nursing.

Opening remarks were delivered to the graduating class by LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D., as she expressed her personal gratitude and excitement for the future of each student.

“Graduates, I commend you on your hard work and the commitment that brought you to this moment,” she shared. “The skills you have learned in this program, paired with your compassion and caring, will guide you as you continue in your career.”

Ballinger shared her confidence in each graduate’s ability to be a caretaker of whatever community they may encounter in their future, knowing their skillsets garnered at LCCC have prepared them.

“I know this because the program you’ve just completed is one of the most rigorous and effective in preparing nurses,” said Ballinger. “For one example, out of more than 100 LCCC nursing graduates who took the NCLEX-RN exam in 2023, more than 93% passed, far surpassing the state average of 86%. That was not a fluke. Year after year, our LCCC nursing graduates pass the NCLEX exam at stellar rates.”

LCCC is the number one training location in Lorain County for healthcare and first responder programs. And graduates of the nursing program find employment close to home, as more than 90% of all LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio.

Ballinger acknowledged the importance of healthcare workers in today’s world and the demand they must meet in both their technical and ethical expertise.

“You are entering this profession at a time when nurses are needed more than ever,” said Dr. Ballinger. “The knowledge and skills you’ve gained here are essential to your success, but being a nurse requires more than technical expertise. It calls for compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of others.”

LCCC’s nursing program provides several options for students to work toward a career in nursing. This includes a short-term certificate in State Tested Nurse Assisting and a one-year certificate in Practical Nursing (LPN). From there students can advance their career with either the traditional Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or the Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse (LPN to RN) options. Paramedics looking to switch to a nursing career can do so by earning an associate degree in nursing through the Paramedic to Registered Nursing option.

LCCC’s nursing programs are designed to transfer seamlessly to LCCC University Partnership programs for advanced training in nursing and other healthcare fields, offering an opportunity for all nursing graduates to continue their education.

For more information on the LCCC nursing program, visit www.lorainccc.edu/nursing. Spring semesters classes begin January 21.