20 students finish vocational nursing

The first group of 20 locally-educated and trained vocational nurses inched closer to a career in the healthcare sector after completing Emmanuel College’s 11-month accelerated LVN Program.

The students were conferred their certificates of completion during a two-part program that combined the traditional pinning ceremony for nurses and the graduation ceremony at the Hibiscus Hall of Fiesta Resort & Spa on Nov. 15, 2008.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial delivered the keynote message.

“You are now on your way to a satisfying career serving others. You are now ready to live up to the theme of this program: ‘Nursing: Caring, Compassion & Commitment.’ Your skills are in very high demand, both here and abroad, and especially in the United States,” Fitial told the graduates.

Touted as one of the most financially rewarding professions in the world today, nursing does not only offer an immense employment opportunity but also presents exceptional financial and professional advantages.

The average licensed nurse in the U.S. earns between $43,370 and $63,360 a year—some even earn as much as $71,000 to $113,000 a year. The majority of nursing jobs come with good benefits as well. Also, in an effort to attract and retain more nurses, many employers offer bonuses, as well as family-friendly work schedules and subsidized training.

Fitial said Saturday night’s event illustrates the potentials for an education industry in the Northern Marianas. “The college shows that the islands can have a viable education industry. We just need to convince federal policymakers to allow us to bring in foreign students, teachers, and investors to put everything together. “

Sedy Demesa, founder and chair of Emmanuel College board of trustees, said the graduation marked many significant beginnings in the graduates’ individual lives while putting the CNMI on the global education map.

“Our graduating students are now armed with an American education that integrates the professional content and the humanistic value of the nursing profession. Our graduates will leave Emmanuel College equipped with the skills and technical knowledge grounded on a set of universal human values of kindness, concern and compassion,” Demesa said.

She recalled that they were met with skepticism when they first presented the idea of introducing the abridged vocational nursing program in the Northern Marianas.

“Many thought it was not feasible and was simply unworkable. But we were undeterred by the skepticism because, as there were many who didn’t believe it will happen, there were twice as many who rallied behind our efforts to bring American nursing education closer to the people of the CNMI and its neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific Region,” she added.

Emmanuel College’s Vocational Nursing program is approved and accredited by the CNMI Board of Nursing for a total of 1,564 hours of theory and clinical training for entry-level employment in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

The Vocational Nursing Program is completed in 11 months after which a graduate can take the state or national licensure examination. A Licensed Vocational Nurse may also be called a Licensed Practical Nurse. An LVN can work in a hospital, long-term care facility, convalescent home, doctor’s office or surgical center, providing many of the same services also performed by Registered Nurses.

LVNs can specialize in a field of medicine that is most interesting to them. LVNs are in very high demand in long-term care facilities or nursing homes, and are frequently paid more for taking these positions, so those who specialize in geriatrics find employment easily.

Graduates of Emmanuel College’s LVN Program may either obtain employment immediately after passing the NCLEX or pursue their RN degree or both. (PR)