BALTIMORE — Mary Ihezie and Rapheal Olumakinde were among the 25 nursing students honored at the Baltimore City Community College’s pinning ceremony for the Class of Fall 2016 on December 20, 2016. Among the graduating class, 17 associate degrees and eight Practical Nursing certificates were conferred.
Courtesy Photo/BCCC
BCCC Associate Degree in Nursing graduate Rapheal Olumakinde with his wife, Temmy and new son, Saint.
For Mary Ihezie, it was a chance to become a registered nurse (RN) after working for some time as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). With her degree, she will pursue her interests in either psychiatric or obstetric nursing after she takes the state board exams to earn an RN license.
“For me this is not just a job, but a lifestyle,” she said. “Education is abundant in my family and we take it seriously.”
Ihezie plans on staying in Maryland as she seeks to join the busy corps of practicing healthcare professionals in this area.
For Rapheal Olumakinde, it’s the culmination of years of interest in the healthcare field, which became crystallized when he attended a nursing orientation session BCCC. With his newfound credential, which took him a little over two years to complete, Rapheal will build on his experiences in CPR and as a correctional officer with the State of Maryland, to transition into emergency room care.
“I like the dynamics, I guess it’s the adrenaline of delivering direct care which can make a difference in the life of a patient and bring calm to a dire situation,” said Rapheal.
Now that he is a new father, he says his advancement in this field will help him to support his growing family. He plans to continue working toward his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse practitioner, a more advanced level in the profession, which carries administrative responsibilities.
“My husband loves God and is devoted to his family,” said his proud wife, Temmy.
BCCC offers a two-year, associate’s degree in nursing and a shorter, three-semester practical nursing certification. Both programs are designed to provide first-generation college students in Baltimore City with the opportunity to prepare for a knowledge-based career. The associate degree program, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); both the associate degree and certificate programs are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Congratulations to all Class of Fall 2016 graduates!