JACKSON – A reputation built on stellar programs and helping to make passions into careers was enough for Breanna McNair to choose Hinds Community College.
“Among the reasons I chose Hinds was all the benefits a community college offered, like Phi Theta Kappa and small class sizes,” McNair said. “The community aspect of Hinds has also helped me develop more personality skills that I’m sure will stick with me for years to come.”
Breanna McNair
McNair, of Jackson, is in the Associate Degree Nursing program at the Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center. She hopes to graduate in 2021 with an Associate of Applied Science in nursing, then attend Delta State University on a PTK scholarship to earn her Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Like many of her fellow nursing and allied health students, she has had her classes converted from hands-on training to online in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. All Hinds campuses closed for in-person classes on March 15.
To stay on pace to graduate, she and other students have had their required clinical training hours reduced and done through virtual simulation. She credits Hinds faculty and staff with making the transition to online classes manageable.
“I can honestly say that I never in a million years expected to be attending nursing school online,” she said. “The nursing instructors have put hours of work into moving a program that was never meant to be online. My clinical instructor in nursing school, Bonnie Brooks, has been the most helpful to me during this time. She has continually ensured that my fears, worries, and anxieties during this time were addressed and abated. This has been an uncertain time, but I thank her for being a strong support.”
While at Hinds, McNair has been recognized for her achievement in several ways, including being among 28 students given 3E Awards for spring 2020. The designation stands for Emphasis on Excellence and Enrichment and the student must carry a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Being connected to the college atmosphere has helped her maintain a cooperative spirit during a most unexpected and challenging time.
“Both the students and the instructors are learning together during this time of how best to proceed to ensure that we are prepared to be the best nurses we can be,” she said.