Pikes Peak State College's first ever cohort of RN-BSN students graduated last month. Seven of the ten grads previously completed their associate degree in Nursing at PPCC. 

PPSC’s RN-BSN program wouldn’t have been possible without a legislative victory in 2018. The law allowed community colleges to offer bachelor of science degrees in nursing for the first time, responding to growing demand and cost effectiveness for students.

"I could not be more honored that so many of our PPSC nursing graduates came back to our program for their BSN degree. These students have worked so hard in this on-line program while juggling families, full-time nursing jobs, and the stresses of the pandemic. They are dedicated nurses and will be amazing healthcare leaders in both our community and abroad," said Randee Nyman, PPSC's RN-BSN Program Coordinator & Assistant Professor of Nursing

Here are some of their stories. These students have given us permission to be contacted directly by members of the media for an interview.

Mary Bocaranda is an immigrant from Venezuela, a first-generation college grad who grew up with a single mom in an impoverished, violence-ridden suburb of Caracas. Bocaranda showed a lot of grit to get through PPSC's ADN program about five years ago as a single mom, just graduated from the RN-BSN program, and is now living in Denver and working for Kaiser, who offers $5000 a year in tuition reimbursement. She is well spoken and energetic and one of our true success stories.

 

Priscilla Flores has been a traveling nurse helping COVID hot spots while in the program.

Alissa Deines graduated from the ADN program at the height of COVID and still finished her BSN less than a year later.