Nevers: SB 69 most important legislation since creating technical colleges in Florida Parishes

Sen. Ben Nevers (D, Bogalusa), fresh from chairing a committee meeting on the morning of the last day of the 2011 Regular Legislative Session, sounded tired.

Sen. Ben Nevers
(D, Bogalusa)

But he also sounded excited at the same time, energy and adrenalin coursing when asked about SB 69, which was passed this week by the House.

“It’s a piece of legislation I’ve been working on for five years,” he told wpnewsblog. “It’s headed for the Governor’s desk now.”

Nevers said there were a lot of hurdles to getting the legislation passed, especially in a tough budget year.

“We got a lot of help from the Northshore delegation,” he said. “We got a lot of support from Dr. Joe May, from William Wainwright and Dr. John Crain.

“I think this is the best thing since we created the technical college program in the Florida Parishes. We now have a community college system we can call our own.”

May is president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Wainwright is Northshore dean and regional director of the Northshore Technical College system and Crain is president of Southeastern.

What the legislation does is to create a new community college system on par with others in the state.

“The campuses in Bogalusa, Hammond and Greensburg can now offer associate degrees,” Nevers explained. “We can have locally enrolled students in high school working toward college hours and all of these can be applied to an associate’s degree or a baccalaureate degree.”

Nevers, a former educator and member of the Bogalusa City School board, said he could only imagine the frustration of someone, having gone through a course of study at one of the technical college campuses only to learn those credits are not transferable.

“The LPN course at Sullivan is a prime example,” he said. “I been fighting that nursing issue since the seventies, when I served on the (Bogalusa) school board. Our students can leave Sullivan and go to Mississippi and get more credit for their courses than we gave them in Louisiana.”

Nevers said he could only imagine what this will mean for the Northshore system.

“Right now, that region is the seventh fastest growing technical college system in the nation. I think this change will accelerate that (growth).”

Nevers was quick to point out that the change to a community college structure “takes no emphasis from the technical aspect of what we do.

“That’s the reason the nate is Northshore Technical Community College … to keep the technical component as well as add the community component. I believe this change will encourage students to stay in post-secondary education, rather than starting over.”

Nevers said he was hopeful he could persuade Gov. Bobby Jindal to come to Bogalusa, site of the state’s first trade school more than 80 years ago, to sign the legislation.

The Legislature adjourns at 6 p.m. today (Thursday).

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Nursing classes over, studying goes on

Recent graduates of the practical nursing program at Northshore Technical College-Sullivan Campus may now be out of the college classroom, but they are still studying.

Recent Sullivan Campus practical nursing
graduates (from left) Melissa Fortenberry,
Brandie Hansel, Darren Canova and Brandie
Arabie (back to camera) use group study to
prepare for their NCLEX.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Despite having met the college's requirements for graduating and receiving their nursing pins, the students have one more hurdle ahead of them — a big one.

Before they can actually practice as a nurse, they must pass their state boards before they become licensed practical nurses.

On Tuesday, four members of the spring class of 2011, put their heads together for a study group at the Bogalusa home of one of their former instructors.

Darren Canova, Brandie Hansel, Melissa Fortenberry and Brandie Arabie discussed the respiratory system and received pointers on how to study for the test, known as NCLEX, from Stephanie Walker, RN.

"It was definitely beneficial," Canova, from Covington, said. "The fact Mrs. Walker was willing to help us when we asked was great and she asked the questions in ways that really make you think."

"I would definitely advise students to take advantage of an instructors willingness to help when asked," Hansel, of Metairie, said. "I'd love to say I was going to study every day, but we don't have our tests dates yet (from the state) and will probably wait until I get my date, the study for the two weeks before the test."

Walker said that, "Over the past couple of years, I've had the opportunity to study with graduate nurses to help prepare for the NCLEX. I do it as a volunteer and my sole expectation from them is hard work and dedication."

She added: "Some study better in groups and some study better individually. I'm just willing to try and help those who want it ... but passing the NCLEX is the result of studying all the way through the program and not waiting until the very end."

Northshore Technical graduates new nurses

Northshore Technical College-Sullivan Campus nursing director Judy Wamsley tells the audience at First Baptist Church about the rigorous curriculum the 20 soon-to-be-graduates followed to become nurses. (John H. Walker photo)

On Friday, May 13, Northshore Technical College-Sullivan Campus, held a combined pinning and graduation ceremony for 20 members of the 2010-2011 Practical Nursing class. The ceremony was at First Baptist Church of Bogalusa.

Members of the class included (alphabetical) Letisha Andrews, Brandie Arabie, Cadie Burr, Darren Canova, Melissa Fortenberry, Brandi Hansel, Andreleta Higgins, Chelsea Jackson, Marlinda James, Lori Knight, Hannah Ledlow, Ashley Luper, Ashley May, Jared Mizell, Keyonna Oatis, Portia Peyton, Amber Scott, Keisha Smith, Christopher Taylor and Riva Williams.

Brandi Hansel won the academic award and Hannah Ledlow was recognized by the nursing staff as most caring. (Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com/)