10 high school and 37 adult students graduate from Practical Nursing and Nurse Assistant programs at Career & Tech

They'll help address shortage of health care professionals in region and beyond

Ten local high school students and 26 adult students graduated from the Practical Nursing program and 11 adult students graduated from the Nurse Assistant program at the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School at an August 25th evening celebration, marking their launch into a career field where their skills are greatly needed. The ceremony was held at the Mohonasen High School auditorium to accommodate the size of the graduating class and their families and friends.

The Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School, which has campuses in Albany (Colonie) and Schoharie, offers full-time- and part-time-study Practical Nursing and Nurse Assistant programs. The high school students completed the Practical Nursing program during their junior and senior years plus a summer school session, while the adult Practical Nursing and adult Nurse Assistant students studied part-time during afternoons and evenings. All of the students learned in classrooms and labs at the Career & Technical School's campus in Colonie and through off-campus clinical experiences at several local healthcare facilities. 

The Nurse Assistant students must pass a New York state examination to work as Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). Many CNAs continue their education in nursing and other health professions. The Practical Nursing graduates are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become Licensed Practical Nurses. In addition to working as LPNs, they also may continue their education to become Registered Nurses. Many of the students are already working as CNAs.

Nursing and nurse assistant are professions in high demand locally and across the nation. An overall shortage of health care professionals will worsen as those currently employed retire and as America's population ages and requires more medical attention. The following Career & Tech program graduates will help meet this growing demand:

Practical Nursing program for Secondary Students graduates:
Noelle J. Bubb
Ashley R. Courtright
Jeanette M. DeAmour
Tiffany L. Dickson
Rachel M. Fink
Jessica L. Joslin
Kristen S. McLean
Lindsey N. Megas
Hannah A. Sipe
Christina M. Stevens

Practical Nursing Part-time Study Program for Adult Students graduates:
Debra J. Acker
Jacqueline Aquila
Crystal L. Bailey
Denise L. Bailey
Christine L. Baranowski
Shirley J. Bolden
Kimberly A. Bolger
Helen T. Bruder
Rebecca Byrne
Paula M. Clayton
Michele M. Dougall
Brineta L. Edwards
Crystal L. Fernandes
DiQuana M. Fews
Claudine J. Gordon
Gloria J. Gschwender
Otis J. Jackson
Lesleter A. Johnson
Omedeli B.T. Joseph
Robin Kowalczyk
April L. Ostrander
Sandra D. Pieniazek
Sangita B. Prasad
Stephanie E. Reid
Jaynessa R. Walker
Mieyoshi S. Williams

Nurse Assistant Part-time Study Program for Adult Students graduates:
Amber B. Barr
Rhonda F. Bonds
Sheryl A. Davis
Carlene Marie Dodson
Antwonette K. Jackson
Shaliah Johnson
Christina D. Medley
Denise N. Moody
Betsy Ortiz
Andrea Perkins
Dominicka L. Turner

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