PLAINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Luzerne County Community College is marking 50 years of its high-ranking nursing program.
This comes as Pennsylvania faces a statewide shortage of the crucial caretakers.
State data shows an expected shortage of 20,000 nurses by 2026. More than 100 nurses from Luzerne County Community College's nursing program will soon enter the workforce and fill some of those roles.
Soon-to-be graduates from the Luzerne County Community College's School of Nursing received their ceremonial pins, surrounded by classmates, family, and friends.
School leadership says the program works with all of the local hospitals, and many who graduate from the program stay in the area, filling critical gaps in care.
"Luzerne County Community College, by producing more nurses, more quality nurses, the best in the industry, we're meeting that workforce need here in Luzerne County and throughout Pennsylvania," said John Yudichak, president of Luzerne County Community College.
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Graduating nurses 28/22 News spoke with say they feel prepared from their studies and are eager and excited to care for others.
"There is indeed a shortage in the world today of nurses, and that's why I'm excited to be a part of a team that, even though we are short, we can still deliver the best care," said Carlita France, class of 2025.
"Now starting in the workforce, we're already used to really hard things, and we already know so much from this program, that it's just gonna benefit us," explained Paige Evans, class of 2025.
What made the ceremony extra special: members of the program's first class from the 1970s were honored, and some were even in attendance.
Their advice to the soon-to-be nurses?
"Just follow your heart. Find something that you really love doing. An area of nursing that you really love," said Lois Scott, class of 1975.
"The demand is going to be there. It's going to even surge. So, I think they're all going to do very well," said Alan Stevens, class of 1975.
The pinning ceremony from today is a tradition in nursing that dates back to Florence Nightingale and serves as a powerful reminder of the values of compassion, care, and community service.
