Fortis College Graduates First Nursing Class
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Fortis College graduated its first ever nursing class tonight with the ceremony held at Frazier Methodist College.
Alabama needs more nurses. And today, the state got some. Each graduate received their diploma and will now take the skills they learned into the real world, where health care providers are desperately needed.
Fortis College in Montgomery now offers an associate degree nursing program. Friday evening, the school saw its first graduating class. Shavonne Wells was one of 12 nurses who crossed the stage at Frazier United Methodist Church to receive her diploma.
“I enjoy nursing. That is my passion. I care for people and I’ve always decided this is something I’ve wanted to do.”
There’s a demand for nurses in Alabama but certain factors keep the supply low. Insufficient faculty, lack of classroom space and low budgets keep the state from producing enough of them. Sierra Miller, who also received a nursing degree Friday night, says she has another theory on why nursing school enrollment is low.
“The program is very strenuous and I think that a lot of people are deterred from pursuing nursing because they allow the program to deter them. It just requires a lot of hard work and dedication.”
Dedication that Mia Mothershed says Fortis College Students have. Mothershed is the Director of Career and Student Services at the school and believes the new nursing program will impact the state’s low numbers.
“We’ve been adding nurses ever since we started in 2012. It’s a two year program so we will continually be graduating nurses every two years.”
For many of these nurses, the next step is to take the NCLEX exam, so they can begin practicing as soon as possible.
“I’ve been studying for several weeks and I’m ready,” Miller says.
“I would love to continue education and get my masters and later become a nurse practitioner,” says Wells.
In the past, Governor Robert Bentley, who is a retired physician, has supported legislation to help Alabama’s shortage of nurses.
