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Head of the Class: Rasmussen Graduates First Nursing Students

The Rasmussen College School of
Nursing celebrated its first graduat-
ing class at its campus in Moorhead,
Minn., with a traditional nurse pin-
ning ceremony June 17.
Community and family members
were invited to witness the formal
ceremony, which featured a sym-
bolic lighting of candles, a recitation
of the Florence Nightingale Pledge, a
modified “Hippocratic Oath,” which
originally was composed in 1893,
and nurse pinning by family mem-
bers of each graduate.
“Rasmussen College is honored
to send this first class of nursing
students into Moorhead and the
surrounding communities to pro-
vide quality healthcare to those in
need,” Dean of Nursing at Rasmussen
Minnesota
College Moorhead Carol Bunge, RN,
BSN, MHA, said in a news release.
“As medical breakthroughs lengthen
average life expectancy and more
patients are afforded healthcare, the
need for qualified nurses is stronger
than ever. We’re humbled to have the
ability to contribute talented profes-
sionals to the growing field.”
For information, visit Rasmussen.edu.

Columbia College, Lake Regional Provide Quality Blend of RNs

By Laura M. Stakal Missouri

With the help of a partnership that
combines education and clinical
training, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.,
nursing students are getting the
hands-on experience they need to
keep up with the growing demands of
their community.
The joint nursing program started
in 2005 between Columbia College
and Lake Regional Health System.
The Ozarks is a rural community with
a growing population of citizens who
need healthcare, and the goal was to
supply enough educated nurses to
care for those patients, said Kristina
Henry, RN, MSN, program coordina-
tor at the Ozarks campus.
“Many residents are retired, and
it’s a unique environment. Plus, our
population doubles in the summer
with tourists,” she said. “This makes
for a complex environment for
healthcare delivery.”
Although a majority of the nursing
instruction comes through Columbia
College, Lake Regional Hospital offers
Photo courtesy of Columbia College
Columbia College-Lake of the Ozarks
nursing students Christopher Williams,
from left, Tabby Pemberton and Taylor
Raube learn at the school’s nursing lab.
students a chance to engage in hands-
on procedures through clinical training
and in-class lectures. The health system
also provided the school’s practical
nursing skills lab, located on campus,
which allows students to perform simu-
lated procedures. Columbia College only
offers an associate degree but, Henry
said, one of the long-term goals is to of-
fer a BSN. She also hopes to add simula-
tion mannequins to the curriculum.
Henry said the program is unique
because of its ties to the immediate
community and increases retention.
“We try to focus on being a part of
the community and make a differ-
ence here,” Henry said. “All of our
students come from the area, so this
creates a mark on our community.
That’s our goal.”
Beth Pettitt, RN, BSN, BSBA, is
Lake Regional Health System’s nurse
mentor. Pettitt oversees training of
prospective nurses and provides an
environment where students feel
comfortable, relaxed and confident.
“When a student transitions into
their new role as an RN, it is important
for them to have a support system,” Pet-
titt said in a news release. “Fortunately,
our organization nurtures these indi-
viduals. We want to make sure they are
comfortable in their new environment.
This creates quality patient care.”
Laura M. Stakal is a regional editor
for NurseWeek.

The daisy AWARD Fresh-Picked

DAISY Recipients
July/August 2010 • HL/MW

for extraordinary nurses

In memory of J. Patrick Barnes

The DAISY Foundation continues to celebrate the tremendous skill and compassion of extraordinary nurses through its nationwide
recognition program. Learn who the latest Heartland/Midwest DAISY Award recipients are at Nurse.com, and read about why
some of them have been chosen by their hospitals to receive this special honor.

Read DAISY Award spotlights at To learn more about DAISY, visit In collaboration with
Nurse.com/DAISY. DAISYfoundation.org.

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