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By Dena Wood
The Times 

SEA-TECH Serves Up CNAs

Ten students completing nursing program are already employed

 

Dena Wood

Dayton and Waitsburg SEA-TECH students (l to r): James Vance, Paige Wood, Bonnie Laib, Bailey Edwards and Sam Davis (not shown) were pinned in a pre-nursing pinning ceremony on May 19. All five went on to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certifications later that week.

WALLA WALLA – It was standing room only, at SEA-TECH Skill Center's first-ever pre-nursing pinning ceremony, held May 19. Friends and family filled the meeting room and lined the hallway to watch as instructor Sandy Thomas pinned the 33 students who had successfully completed the required clinicals and class time to sit for the state exams.

Students held candles in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, during the ceremony's processional. Thomas shared that the students had spent 80 hours in clinicals, and had learned 22 different skills in preparation for the state exams. The Washington Odd Fellows Home and Park Manor Rehab Center offered SEA-TECH students a $500 sign-on bonus as well as a $1,000 scholarship toward WWCC's nursing program, she said. She also said that 10 students already have jobs lined up.

Between student speeches by Daniel Hussey, Vanessa Crosbie, Patricia Oribio, Fabiola Salagado and Jade Cramer, Thomas awarded certificates to groups of students, dubbing each with a nickname. Of the 33 students, Samantha Davis* (Miss Big Heart), Bonnie Laib* (All-American Cowgirl) and James Vance (Big Top Cop) attend school in Dayton and Bailey Edwards (Miss Happy) and Paige Wood* (Olympian/Fire Chief) attend Waitsburg High School. (Asterisks denote "A" students.)

On May 21-22, Health Science students took the state boards to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) with all of the Dayton/Waitsburg students receiving their certifications. Both Davis and Edwards intend to pursue careers in nursing. "I want to be a pediatric nurse and the program was very helpful and hands-on. It was a great first step to take to get into nursing," said Davis.

 

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