Students go from classroom to hands-on training

Students receiving caps are Samantha Bussone, Cassie Snyder, Jacqueline Shouse, Karen Minich, April Hancock, Deane Pennington, Shelli Schellman, Kristy Hamby, Janie Sims, Rebecca Roderick, Rachel Christian, Lisa Aikins, Kimberly Parker, Debra Penniston, Annette Bogan, Darci Ashby, Kimmie Reno, Tara Vaughn, Sherry Garrett, Johnelle Ontiveros, and Kathy Haddix.

By Afton Bugg

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada Regional Technical Center's North Campus licensed practical nursing program held its 42nd annual capping ceremony on Thursday to show the hard work that this year's 21 students have achieved. They are transferring from the classroom to hands-on training.

As these students take their journey from classroom atmosphere to caring for patients, they will learn just what it is to become a nurse.

Dr. Ted Davis, superintendent of the Nevada R-5 schools, spoke to the students about a prediction he made. When classes started he told them to look around at their classmates -- some of them would not be here when this capping ceremony arrived. He was right -- only 21 out of 31 students stayed in the program.

Addressing those who had earned their caps, Davis said, "This is hard work and you all are still here, hopefully you will make it on to graduation."

Davis explained that there is a lot of information to remember and use in that one year of schooling, and he encouraged the students to finish the rest of the program.

Davis said, "People need you. They depend on you."

During the ceremony, Neoma Foreman, a member of the Gideons, which places the Bibles into hotels and hands the smaller Bibles to those in need of them, gave Bibles to the students after receiving their cap. Foreman said the Bibles may help them in their time of need to give advice to a patient or their family members, and even for themselves when they are in need of advice.

Awards were also presented, following the capping.

Rachel Christian received the award for best sense of humor, voted on by her classmates. The perfect attendance awards were given to Lisa Aikins, Darci Ashby, Rebecca Roderick, Jacqueline Shouse, and Kimberly Parker. Kimberly Parker also received two more awards, she was voted by her classmates to receive the awards for best organized and most caring and kind hearted.

Accepting her awards, Parker said, "My greatest accomplishment since I have been here is learning how to work with patients and switching from paper to the real thing. What I like most about this group of girls, is that we all support each other when we are having a bad day. This was a great bonding experience for me."

The first capping ceremony in Nevada was held in 1963. The caps were worn then as a sign of privilege.

Those not wearing the cap were on probation for something they had done. One nurse's cap was taken for six months because she was caught smoking in one of the patient's rooms.

In the 1970s and '80s, the nurses stopped wearing the caps, for a number of reasons, one of them being that they felt the caps got in the way when they tried to assist the patients.

Eventually the traditional white uniforms were replaced, in general, with other, updated uniforms.

For information on how to apply for classes at the North campus call (417) 448-2016.