Tulsa Community College Celebrates Largest Graduating Class Of Nurses

Tulsa Community College (TCC) just graduated its largest class of nursing students.

The 103 graduates were honored Wednesday night at a nursing pinning ceremony.

TCC's Nursing Program Director Lisa Gerow said the graduates are in high demand as hospitals continue to experience staffing issues. "There is still just a huge, huge nursing shortage nationwide, but in Tulsa and our community as well," she added. "All of the hospitals are really desperately needing nurses because they are still short."

A study released by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) found 100,000 nurses left the workforce over the last two years due to stress, burnout, and retirements. 

TCC nursing graduate Maia Torres said those statistics motivate her even more. "I think it made me want to become a nurse even more just because I know that there is such a shortage, but it has not hindered it in any way. I am not scared to go into the workforce with little staff. I think that it will be really good experience," she said.

The graduates must now pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to earn their nursing license. Torres said TCC offered resources throughout her two years in school to better prepare her for the test. She said the program also helped her land an externship at Saint Francis Hospital where she was able to get real-world experience working in a hospital.

Torres said her inspiration for wanting to become a nurse came from someone she is very close to. "What really made me realize that I wanted to be a nurse was my grandma," she continued saying, "She moved here when she was about 21 or 22 from the Philippines and got her nursing degree. I have lived with her my entire life and just hearing her stories and seeing how much of an impact she has made on people's lives; it really made me recognize that I want to follow in her footsteps."

Once she passes the NCLEX, Torres said she will begin working at the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis.

Gerow said TCC plans to gradually increase the number of nursing students each year. "We admitted 96 students last fall in the traditional program. The plan was 100 students this time and we are going to go up to 110 students next year, so we are gradually increasing to graduate more students and then in addition to that we are also focusing on retaining the students that we have admitted," she said.

To learn more about the nursing program at TCC Click Here.