Healthcare is a broad field, with positions in our region’s doctor’s offices, long-term care facilities and laboratories. While most healthcare positions are in high demand, rural areas have a greater need for nursing assistants. Beaufort County Community College celebrated as students from the nurse aide I, nurse aide II and phlebotomy programs earned their certifications. The Continuing Education Division held a ceremony in their honor on May 20.

Twenty-one students finished the nurse aide I program, five completed the nurse aide II program and six completed the phlebotomy program. This marked the first time that BCCC has offered a nurse aide I course at its Hyde County-Davis Center, where four students completed the program. Rural areas have a high demand for these fields, as they tend to have older populations in need of routine healthcare and long-term care.

Ahlam Abdelaziz, Monerra Awadallah, Ciara Barfield, Autumn Brown, Cortney Bryant, Devin Bunch, Courtney Burkett, Ashley Corbett, Brittany Corey, Lavikina Grimes, Destiny Lewis, Brianna Mackey, Amanda Mignault, Jessie Miller, Chrylene Myers, Leslie Parker, Rayvette Roulhac, Monica Swain, Ana Swindell, Cierra Williams and Janice Cooper-Windley completed the nurse aide I course. Helen Bagwell, Cherryl Cabarello, Monica Hopkins, Charlotte Masonand Sarah Tyson completed the nurse aide II course. Aaron Bailey, Tihishia Keel, Cynthia Medina, Jessica Rosene, Austin Squires and Chelsea Tuck completed the phlebotomy course.

Graduates of the nurse aide programs can provide personal care and perform basic nursing skills for elderly adults. Phlebotomy students learn to draw blood. BCCC now offers in-facility testing, meaning students can take state certification tests at the college. Previously, students would have had to wait until testing was offered in Greenville or travel to locations like Hickory or Charleston before they could begin employment.

Students participate in clinical internships as part of the program at locations such as Vidant Multispecialty Clinic in Belhaven, River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation in Washington, or Carolina East Medical Associates in Greenville.

Jackie Butcher, director of healthcare programs for continuing education, shared the story of a rescue that happened at a lifesaving station at the Outer Banks 116 years ago. This chance encounter between a victim of the surf and a care provider would repeat itself a century later when Butcher, the granddaughter of the care provider, would attend to a patient who was the granddaughter of the victim. Butcher noted that healthcare is a profession that people feel called to do, with families helping families through the centuries.

The college offers a variety of healthcare programs, from nurse aide and registered medical assistant training to starting nurses on their bachelor’s degrees through the RIBN program. This variety of programs means that the college can cater to students who are starting or returning to college later in life, advancing their certification or changing careers. BCCC’s connection to the local healthcare industry means that students fill needed positions in a variety of services throughout the community.

Nurse Aide I Refresher starts June 3. The two-day Medication Aide for Long-Term Care Facility class will take place on June 4 and June 6 or June 8 and June 15. Basic Life Support and CPR for Healthcare Providers will take place on June 6 and June 13. Heartsaver CPR/AED classes will take place on May 29 and June 22. Contact Jackie Butcher for more information at 252-940-6263.