Chipola Health Sciences Students See Alumni Impact at Northwest Florida Community Hospital

Chipola College nursing students recently attended a continuing education in-service at Northwest Florida Community Hospital focused on pediatric respiratory emergencies. The experience also gave students a firsthand look at the impact Chipola graduates are making in healthcare throughout the region.

Chipola alumni serve in numerous clinical and leadership roles at the hospital, including Connie Swearingen, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and a graduate of Chipola’s first RN class; Josie Griggs, BSN, RN, 2nd Floor Manager; and Terry Edwards, RN, 2nd Floor RN Supervisor.

The in-service also featured AirHeart 2 presenters Billy Shaynak, Clinical Base Lead and a 2012 Chipola Paramedic graduate, and Hannah Purvis, Flight Nurse/Base Outreach Coordinator and Chipola graduate. Paramedic graduate Sawyer Wilson also continues to mentor and teach future healthcare professionals.

Many other Chipola graduates provide patient care throughout the hospital and serve as clinical preceptors for Chipola nursing students each semester.

For current students, the experience was a reminder of where their Chipola education can lead—from providing patient care to mentoring others and serving in healthcare leadership roles throughout the region.

For information about Chipola College Health Sciences programs, contact Stefanie Barnes, Director of Health Sciences, at barness@chipola.edu or 850-718-2278.