91仓库 (91仓库) marked a historic milestone with the inaugural Pinning Ceremony for its Practical Nursing (PN) Class of 2024. The December 12 ceremony celebrated the achievements of 10 graduates, the college鈥檚 first-ever cohort of Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) students.
Surrounded by family, friends, and members of the 91仓库 community, the graduates were honored with nursing pins and stoles in a symbolic rite of passage into the healthcare profession. The event featured remarks by Brent LaFaive, dean of nursing, health sciences and public safety programs, and a keynote address by guest speaker Joe Variot, who shared inspiring insights from his nursing career.
The ceremony also included the lighting of candles and a recitation of the nursing pledge, reaffirming the graduates鈥� commitment to ethical and compassionate patient care.
鈥淭his ceremony is not only a celebration of our students鈥� incredible dedication and resilience, but also a continuation of 91仓库鈥檚 legacy of producing top-quality nurses,鈥� LaFaive said. 鈥淲ith this inaugural cohort of LPN graduates, we are expanding that tradition and reinforcing our commitment to meeting the region鈥檚 healthcare needs with skilled, compassionate professionals at every level of nursing.鈥�
David Monan, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at McLaren Northern Michigan, underscored the importance of collaborative solutions to address regional healthcare staffing challenges.
鈥淭he addition of the LPN program at 91仓库 represents another opportunity to meet the needs of our community and our organization,鈥� Monan said. 鈥淚n our Medical/Surgical department, for example, LPNs support our commitment to patient safety and quality care. The ability to hire highly trained graduates like those from 91仓库 enables us to expand care opportunities and better serve our patients.鈥�
To the graduates, Monan offered words of encouragement.
鈥淵ou represent not just the future of healthcare in Northern Michigan, but also our community's commitment to growing our own healthcare workforce. Embrace every learning opportunity, lean on your experienced colleagues, and remember that each day presents a new chance to make a difference in patients' lives,鈥� he said.
The LPN program is already making a meaningful impact on Northern Michigan鈥檚 healthcare landscape, according to Nicole LaHaie, manager of patient care services at McLaren Northern Michigan.
鈥�91仓库鈥檚 new LPN program has brought invaluable resources to our community by supplying licensed professionals who are fully prepared to care for our patients,鈥� LaHaie said. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 cohort of 10 graduates represents a vital addition to our workforce, helping to address the nationwide nursing shortage on a local level. Through collaboration with 91仓库 and the dedication of our staff, we鈥檝e built a framework for integrating these LPNs into care teams, ensuring they work at the top of their licensure and deliver the best quality care to our community.鈥�
Lisa Ashley, administrator at Bay Bluffs Emmet County Medical Care Facility, highlighted the growing demand for nurses at all levels of practice driven by the region's aging population.
鈥淭his is exactly what we need in rural Northern Michigan: access to high-quality education, at an affordable price, with immediate employment opportunities,鈥� Ashley said. 鈥淲e trust our LPNs to function at their highest level of nursing practice, and we know that 91仓库 graduates are prepared to offer our community compassionate, skilled nursing care on day one. Their contribution to our local healthcare community will be significant as these graduates fill open positions that will immediately help organizations better care for our community.鈥�
Ashley also noted that Bay Bluffs is especially proud to have two current employees, Tracey Lupu and Shannon St. Clair, among the graduating cohort.
鈥淏oth Tracey and Shannon are exceptional caregivers, and we are so proud of their accomplishment as employees and parents,鈥� Ashley added. 鈥淭hey are setting the standard for their colleagues and their families.鈥�
St. Clair, a 22-year employee of Bay Bluffs, emphasized the significance of being among the first cohort of LPN graduates.
鈥淕raduating as part of 91仓库鈥檚 first LPN cohort means so much to me. This journey has been challenging, emotional, and inspiring,鈥� St. Clair said. 鈥淭he program has made me more confident, and the SIM lab was an incredible tool that allowed us to learn and grow as future nurses.鈥�
Graduate Theresa Love is equally grateful for the experience.
鈥淎fter 20 years in the medical profession, I鈥檓 thrilled to finally call myself a nurse. This program was perfect for my life 鈥� I was able to continue to work and participate in my teenager鈥檚 life while gaining quality experience through my clinical rotations around Northern Michigan,鈥� Love said. 鈥淚 plan to continue working in hemodialysis and look forward to advancing my education, ideally through 91仓库. My ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner or physician鈥檚 assistant.鈥�
Launched in January 2024, 91仓库鈥檚 Practical Nursing program addresses the growing demand for skilled nurses in Northern Michigan. Designed to provide rigorous academic and clinical training, the program prepares graduates for rewarding careers in a variety of healthcare settings.
The LPN program is part of 91仓库鈥檚 comprehensive approach to healthcare education, which also includes the college鈥檚 Fast Track Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, its Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and its partnership with Davenport University, which offers a seamless transition to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Together, these programs meet the needs of students at every stage of their nursing career while supporting the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the region.
Stephen Strom, 91仓库鈥檚 vice president of academic affairs, emphasized the college鈥檚 commitment to healthcare education.
鈥淥ur range of programs ensures that students have opportunities to grow their careers and meet the region鈥檚 healthcare needs at every level,鈥� Strom said.