Forty-five graduated from Beaufort County Community College’s associate degree in nursing program Thursday at 11 a.m.

The families and supporters of the graduates packed the Old Ford Church of Christ (6040 U.S. Highway 17, Washington).

The graduates finished a five-semester program, including clinical experience in nursing homes, hospitals and other health care agencies. They are trained in general nursing, long-term care, home health, medical surgical nursing and intermediate and intensive care.

Kent Dickerson, director of the nursing program, explained the difficulty of the program and how much information the students must absorb in a very short time period. Later in their classroom experience, the students are exposed to “simulation lab,” where they interact with robot “patients” that breathe, have pulses, bleed, cry and can even die in scenarios that model on real situations. Nurses must learn to interact as a team.

Among the students recognized were Matthew Anderson, who received the outstanding student award. Anderson also delivered student comments during the ceremony. Margo Brown received the Katie Paul Award for Clinical Excellence. The Outstanding Leadership Award was presented to Mollie Davis, and Betsy Farnsley received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. The nurses were pinned by instructor Molly Wells, and instructor Dr. Millie House led the graduates in the Nurse’s Pledge.

This year, two students, Elizabeth Knox and Carmela Mombraerts, were awarded the new DAISY in Training Award. This award from the DAISY Foundation is given to nursing students who exemplify the delivery of clinical care in an extraordinary and compassionate way to patients and their families, according to the foundation.

Students graduating from the program must pass the nursing board exam before being employed. Four of the graduates were dual enrolled in the regionally increasing bachelor’s in nursing program to receive their bachelor’s degree in nursing one year after receiving their ADN. Alexis Bryant, Caroline James, Jenna Lamphere and Lyndsey Odom were recognized for their participation in the program. The RIBN program seeks to increase the number of nurses with four-year degrees across the state.

For more information about the nursing program, contact Kent Dickerson at 252-940-6205 or kent.dickerson@beaufortccc.edu.