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JACKSON – A career in healthcare is what Megan Irby wanted to pursue since she worked as a hospital secretary more than 20 years ago.

Now a mother of two teenagers, Irby, 40, of Vicksburg, can’t get started soon enough.

“I can’t wait until I get into nursing school,” Irby said. “I’m in my second semester at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus taking pre-requisites and I hope to be in school next spring.”

Andrea Ellis, 18, of Jackson, plans to start a life of caring for others right away as well.

“I want to be a neonatal nurse,” said Ellis, a senior at Murrah High School whose desire to study nursing was formed by her experience as a patient. “I was in a car crash last summer and saw all the work they do.”

Both were among about 150 people who attended the Spring 2017 Nursing and Allied Health Showcase Thursday, March 2 at Hinds’ Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center.

Prospective students and others toured the campus’ learning labs, spoke with faculty, explored the college’s 13 health-related and two short-term programs and got the latest on requirements and deadlines.

“Guests spoke with our faculty one-on-one to learn about our programs of study and the promising careers in healthcare that ��������graduates obtain,” said Kathryn Cole, district director of Enrollment Services.

Programs showcased included Associate Degree Nursing (RN), Dental Assisting Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Emergency Medical Science, Health Information Technology, Health Care Assistant, Medical Assisting Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Technology, Surgical Technology, and two short-term programs, Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy.

“Graduates of our programs are employed at rates of 90 to 100 percent within a year of graduation and consistently meet national benchmarks for licensure/registry pass rates,” said Dr. Libby Mahaffey, dean of Nursing and Allied Health.

The program’s solid reputation has Paula Palmertree, of Florence, back in school for a subject that’s all around her.

“I want to go into pediatrics for sure,” Palmertree said. “I have friends and family with children who have special needs.”

Like Irby, whose first career she describes as simply being a mom, Yolanda Ellis, of Jackson, is anxious to build a healthcare career. In her case, it would be adding to her current credentials as a certified nursing assistant.

“I love working with patients, especially older people,” Ellis said. “I like to listen to them because they can teach us so much.”

Technical and associate degree programs at NAHC are nationally accredited by specialty accrediting organizations. The career programs meet state accreditation/approval guidelines. The Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center is at 1750 Chadwick Drive. For more information on individual programs, call 601.376.4807 or visit .��

[tweetable alt=””]��������CC a perfect place to start nursing careers for young, older students[/tweetable]