All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

State nursing leader to serve as speaker for D&E Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony

Dr Sue Painter

Elkins – Dr. Sue Ann Painter, executive director of the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses, will serve as keynote speaker for the 2019 Davis & Elkins College Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony.

The traditional ceremony, set for 4 p.m. Friday, May 10 in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium, will include the pinning of nursing graduates, rose presentations and a candlelit Florence Nightingale pledge.

As the state agency’s leader since 2016, Painter has directed numerous programs to enhance the nursing profession in West Virginia. Collaborating with the state attorney general, Painter implemented a special volunteer license for retired registered professional nurses wishing to donate their expertise in care and treatment.

She also created and implemented a classification system for complaints received against licensees which permit early identification of possible threats to public safety; and negotiated with the National Councils of State Boards of Nursing leadership to join the NURSYS on-line license verification as well as the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Throughout her 40-year career in nursing, Painter has worked in management, education and as a direct care provider, including roles as director of performance partners, vice president of nursing, vice president of patient services, nursing instructor, chief nursing officer and staff RN.

Painter earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Science in nursing administration from Bellarmine University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Alderson-Broaddus College. She holds a Registered Nurse license in West Virginia and Kentucky, and a West Virginia Nursing Home Administrator license.

In addition, Painter is past president of the West Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives and a member of the board of directors and a volunteer nurse for Camp KnoKoma Inc.

In December, the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses granted approval for Davis & Elkins College to add a four-year Bachelor of Science program to the Division of Nursing. Students enrolled in the new program will begin in fall 2019.

The college will continue to offer an Associate of Science in nursing program and an online RN to BSN degree completion program.

In addition to the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony, the Davis & Elkins College Commencement Weekend includes a Baccalaureate Service and Recognition of Graduates at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10 in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. A reception for graduates and their guests will take place immediately afterward on the plaza.

The 110th Commencement Ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11 in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. A reception for graduates and their guests will follow on the plaza.

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