Big Bend nursing students excel through difficulties

By CONNOR VANDERWEYST, Columbia Basin Herald

MOSES LAKE — Pam Kortness knew she wanted to be a nurse since she was a child.

Danny Tracy wanted to switch careers from the business sector into the medical field.

Jennifer Dominguez saw the need for health care after visiting Mexico.

Nursing students come from all walks of life, and Big Bend Community College’s nursing program has built a reputation of preparing its students well to enter and advance in the field.

This year, like many previous years, all 22 graduates of the Class of 2020 passed their National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) — the final step before employment.

“We are so, so proud of them,” said Director of Health Education Programs Katherine Christian. “We kind of do a countdown and as the results come in we get more and more excited. There’s a lot of cheering going on when we got that last result and we do that every year.”

Kortness knew she wanted to enter the field from a young age. When her children were grown, Kortness was able to return to school and fulfill her long-held dream.

Kortness described nursing school as “incredibly difficult,” but commended her professors for being knowledgeable, available and supportive.

To read the full story, visit the Columbia Basin Herald  website.