Bucks County Community recently celebrated the graduation of more than 120 firefighters and also the 100 percent pass rate by nursing students on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
The firefighter graduation ceremony took place on Tuesday, December 17, at the college’s Newtown Township campus.
The crowd attracted an overflow crowd that included proud family members, friends, and fellow first responders.
The graduates represented 29 fire companies—23 from within Bucks County—and successfully completed training that includes Firefighter 1 and 2 national certifications, First Aid, CPR/AED, and Hazmat operations.
During the ceremony, three firefighters received Outstanding Student awards: Alex Armstrong, of Ottsville, a member of Palisades Regional Fire Rescue; Peter Horvath, of Bristol, a member of Third District Volunteer Fire Company in Bristol Township; and Philip Kim, of Wycombe, a member of Lingohocken Fire Company in Buckingham and Wrightstown townships.
The training took place at the college’s Public Safety Training Centers in Doylestown and Bristol Townships.
Also recently, Bucks County Community College also celebrated its nursing graduates, who all passed the NCLEX-RN exam on their first attempt—a first for the program under its new concept-based curriculum.
The graduates tested between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.
“We’re so proud of these 60 grads as well as our faculty and staff who prepared these students well to enter the nursing field,” said Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Constance Corrigan.
The NCLEX-RN exam assesses a candidate’s nursing competence to determine if they can practice as an entry-level nurse.
To become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Pennsylvania, students must successfully complete an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX before they can apply for their nursing license and begin practicing as an RN. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
“We are thrilled about our nursing graduates achieving their life-changing professional goal,” said Bucks County Community College’s President and CEO Dr. Patrick Jones. “Bucks also offers successful programs in other high-demand healthcare fields such as Practical Nursing, Radiography, and Medical Lab Technician. All of these programs help us meet employer needs and prepare students for great career opportunities.”