Thrill of critical thinking led Polk State alum to EMS career
Allison Skinner lives for the thrill of responding quickly and critically to the needs of her patients as a paramedic with Manatee County Emergency Medical Services. And after only four years on the job, Skinner…
Alum, WNCC EMS Program Director Graham Judd: Polk State’s program serves as exemplary model
Polk State College alum Graham Judd says Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Director Don Guillette runs a tight ship, which Judd admits he didn’t fully understand when he was a student. But after more than…
Pinning Ceremony May 2018
Polk State held its annual Pinning Ceremony on May 2, 2018, for nursing graduates. The candlelight processional represents the traditional “Light of Knowledge” and “Ray of Hope” associated with the lamp that Florence Nightingale carried…
From nurse to patient: Graduating student overcomes debilitating illness to achieve BSN
Amber Price has dedicated her life to helping and healing others, but soon after starting her career as a registered nurse at Winter Haven Hospital, she was forced to switch her role to patient as…
Respiratory Care Program receives Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award
For the fourth consecutive year, Polk State College’s Respiratory Care Program has received the Distinguished RRT (registered respiratory therapist) Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). The award is presented…
Nursing programs achieve reaccreditation, continue to meet standards of excellence
Polk State College’s Associate in Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs recently received reaccreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for exceeding standards and meeting criteria that determine…
Alum, adjunct becomes Florida’s first internationally certified community paramedic
Earl Kulpa, a Polk State College alum and adjunct instructor in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program, recently became the first internationally certified community paramedic in Florida — among only 112 in the nation. Kulpa,…
CSX Grant Gives Students Lifelike Trauma Care Training
At Polk State College, students and first responders receive lifelike trauma care training, which is being enhanced thanks to a recent grant from CSX. CSX awarded the Polk State College Foundation with $4,485 to purchase…
Radiography Program Reaccredited By Meeting Rigorous Standards
Polk State College’s Radiography program was recently awarded reaccreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) for meeting a handful of rigorous standards. The JRCERT is the only agency recognized by…
Pinning Ceremony December 2017
Polk State held its annual Pinning Ceremony on Dec. 13, 2017, for nursing graduates. The candlelight processional represents the traditional “Light of Knowledge” and “Ray of Hope” associated with the lamp that Florence Nightingale carried…