HISTORY

JONES JUNIOR COLLEGE ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING

The program was started September 1, 1964 with 35 students being admitted to the first class. Presently the program admits 40 students in the fall and 40 in the spring semesters. Mrs. Earline McRae was the first director; the next directors were JoAnn McConnell, Shirley T. Griffin, and presently Linda Suttle. As as Dec. 2002 there have been 1196 graduates with an overall passage rate on the NCLEX-RN of 99.16%. This rate reflects those graduates who have repeated the exam.

THE NURSING PIN

The wearing of the nursing pin is a source of pride and a privilege earned by graduates of the program. Each school adopts their symbol or pin to indicate the excellent nursing educational program the graduate came from. In the history of our school there have been two pins adopted. The first was circular in shape and was designed similar to the ensigna of Jones Junior College.

The second pin was adopted by the class of 1974, alumni & faculty at that time. It was designed in the shape of the maltese cross which is the shape of the earliest ancestor of the nursing pins. The maltese cross dates back to the Crusades when the knights occupied the Holy Land and the nursing orders developed to meet the military needs of the wounded. At that time they had a military role and a nursing role. The cross had eight points standing for the beatitudes that the knights were to obey. the maltese cross was the original symbol of service. Our school pin was featured in the RN magazine in 1995.

The wearing of the school pin symbolizes the right to serve others. It signifies the acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of Nursing and the educational preparation of the wearer. Most schools have a pinning ceremony to honor graduates.

Developed by Linda Suttle, Jean Easterling, & Linda Williams
For Comments e-mail linda.suttle@jcjc.cc.ms.us
Last Update: 2006

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