Nurses recognized at transition graduation Published Jan. 19, 2011 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Ten new nurses were recognized Dec. 15 as the 81st Medical Group's Nurse Transition Program held a graduation ceremony in the hospital's Don Wylie Auditorium, marking the end of their 11 weeks of training. Class 100927 graduates are 2nd Lts. Janis Bosley, Sarah Jameson, Heather Marzan, Amanda Mullinix, Leslyn Heaston, Rebecca Herman, Danh Nguyen, Jessica Ramirez, Erica Quarles, and Anna Wright. Col. Allison Plunk, 81st Medical Group Chief Nurse, presented graduation certificates and also addressed the graduates and guests. The class selected Maj. Barbara Susen, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron, to be their guest speaker and Capt. Reynel Garcia of the 81st IPTS to receive the Best Preceptor Award. Among the special guests were Brig. Gen. Andrew Mueller, 81st Training Wing Commander, and Col. Glen Downing, 81st TRW Vice Commander. According to Capt. Iesiah Harris, chief of NTP, the primary goal of the Nurse Transition Program is to "provide novice nurses having less than one year of nursing experience with clinical and leadership skills to ensure a successful transition to the Air Force Nurse Corps. "The Air Force Nurse Corps is committed to the success of its nurses and challenges novice nurses to exceed their goals. The Nurse Transition Program provides a stable foundation, reinforcing what was learned in nursing school to help the novice nurse gain proficiency and build confidence skills," she explained. NTP nurses are paired with staff nurses who act as preceptors. The preceptor and NTP nurse work together closely, sharing a team of patients. As the NTP nurse functions more independently, the preceptor become a resource, ensuring course objectives are met. Upon completion of NTP, nurses are armed with skills to function as clinically competent nurses. Five of the newest Air Force nurses -- Lieutenants Bosley, Jameson, Marzan, Mullinix and Wright -- remain at Keesler. Lieutenant Heaston has been assigned to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Lieutenant Quarles to Travis AFB, Calif., and Lieutenants Herman, Nguyen, and Ramirez are going to Nellis AFB, Nev.