Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s nursing program was the recipient of the School of Nursing of the Year -Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program award at the 2017 Nightingale Awards Gala held on March 6 in Jackson. Each year, the Mississippi Nurses Association and the Mississippi Nurses Foundation recognizes programs throughout the state in several health care categories.

“We are so excited for being the recipient of the School of Nursing of the Year -Associate Degree Nursing Program for the state of Mississippi,” Dr. Joan Hendrix, dean of Nursing and Allied Health, said. “Receiving two distinct state recognitions this semester (the program was also ranked in the top 5 programs in the state by RegisteredNursing.org) is incredible and it confirms the tremendous amount of teamwork and coordination demonstrated by faculty, staff and administrators. I am so proud of our students and faculty, and the Gulf Coast support provided across the district.”

The School of Nursing of the Year categories recognized an associate degree nursing program and a baccalaureate nursing (BSN) program. Results are based on an application process addressing criteria including the school of nursing’s most significant contribution to the nursing profession, first-time passage rate on NCLEX-RN for past three years, graduation rate for past three years and comments of student nurses and/or graduate nurses, graduate nurses’ employers and faculty.