Nursing Program Recognizes Students with Citizenship Award

Two Joliet Junior College nursing students say they’re honored to have been selected for the spring 2018 Nursing Citizenship Award.

Jazmine Rivera and Evan Alling were both surprised to learn of the recognition, and expressed thanks for the opportunity to study in a rewarding environment.

“I feel like everyone here genuinely cares about us as nursing students and works well with us to aid in our success,” said Rivera. “The nursing program here is tough but it is definitely manageable and it is nice to be in an environment that helps you reach your goals.”

“The simulation lab is great for establishing comfort in a myriad of healthcare scenarios. The student support system - especially in the skills lab - is incredibly beneficial, and the instructors are warm, kind, and understanding on top of their clinical experience,” Alling said.

The Nursing Department began honoring its students with the Citizenship Award in fall 2016. Faculty nominate and then select two students each semester who they feel demonstrate outstanding qualities in the following categories: Attitude, academics, character, community service, and school spirit.

Jazmine Rivera

Rivera, a resident of Lockport, said she’s motivated to work hard at JJC in order to show a good example for her daughter, who also has excelled in school.

“She scored above her grade level in reading, math, and spelling and she is in an advanced reading program and was on the leader board for math in her class,” said Rivera. “So winning this award is just another way for me to show her that her mommy is smart like she is. I love that her and I can celebrate our accomplishments in school together.”

Rivera’s decision to enroll at JJC was aided by the nursing program’s success in preparing its students. They’ve consistently tested well, as analyzed by the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). In fact, pass rates for JJC nursing students in 2017 once again exceeded state and national averages.

“After I graduate JJC I plan on attending an RN to BSN program. Then the goal is to work, get experience and then go back to school and become a nurse anesthetists,” she said.

Evan Alling

A Joliet native, Alling first worked in healthcare from 2008-2014 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where he said JJC’s nursing program has a great reputation.

“As more nursing programs open, tuition for nursing keeps rising. JJC’s realistic tuition rates and reputation were the deciding factors for enrollment,” said Alling.

Alling’s favorite part, he said, is developing relationships with his classmates and more specifically his clinical group. Upon graduating, Alling hopes to expand his role in a critical care setting.

“I currently work in an emergency room and would like to be work in an ER or an ICU of some type with a bias for a cardiac ICU in an academic institution. I plan to go into a graduate program of some sort after obtaining more experience,” he said.

JJC’s Nursing Education Department offers a registered nurse degree and a practical nurse certificate. The program’s first graduating class totaled 11 students in 1971. Today, over 100 students graduate from both programs annually. Learn more about the nursing program at its website.

For media inquiries, contact JJC Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.