TCL’s nursing program director earns national certification

TCL’s Nursing Program Director Vandy Amason recently received the CastleBranch Educator Scholarship for Professional Development given by the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Amason used the scholarship to become a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing.

“This is a rigorous certification exam and a huge accomplishment,” said Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Joey Swearingen. “We are very proud of Vandy.”

While the certification is not required by S.C.’s board of nursing, it is looked upon favorably by their accrediting body, Swearingen said.

“In addition, being deemed an expert by the National League for Nursing lends credence to the role of program director and adds to the overall esteem of our nursing program,” Swearingen said. “All of this further demonstrates TCL’s excellence in nursing education. I can’t say enough how prestigious this is and how proud we are of Vandy.”

Between 2020-2023, TCL graduated 179 individuals from its Associate Degree Nursing program and 17 from its Practical Nursing Diploma program, despite the Covid pandemic.

Amason, who has worked for TCL for 10 years and been a nurse for 35 years, said she was honored to have received the scholarship and excited to be able to go on to earn the national certification.

“I hope this will serve as a lesson to our students that in nursing, learning is a lifelong pursuit,” she said. “Nurses do not stop learning after they’ve become licensed. We continue to learn to stay on top of the latest in medicine and nursing procedures but also because we are dedicated to a career of caring for others.”