In medicine, knowledge makes all the difference in saving a patient’s life.

Students at the Vicksburg-Warren campus of Hinds Community College proved they thoroughly know the roles and responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse during a recent competition.

The Class of 2016 placed first in five of seven categories at the 2016 Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses convention in Biloxi Saturday.

“We enjoyed it as a group,” student Brittney Brown said. “I felt like it was a learning experience and of course we were happy to take home five out of seven.”

Categories won included a poster contest that displayed the roles and responsibilities of an LPN, scoring the highest on the practical nurses exam, correctly identifying and spelling 50 medical supplies, a prepared speech and the community service award for their work done with the Heritage House and other shelters in Warren County.

NyJewel Brown recorded the highest score among the 900-plus students in attendance in the practical nurses exam.

“She scored the highest as far as knowing all the instruments and tools needed to do our job,” student Brieu Madison said. “That says that Hinds-Vicksburg is putting out licensed practical nurses that know their stuff, that’s going to be success and take care of our patients here. So yes, we got it going on.”

Madison delivered the first-place speech on the different roles encompassed in the occupation, which include leadership, working as a team, being a good communicator, researcher, counselor advocate and collaborator.

As the theme for the convention revolved around exploring the thrilling profession of a licensed practical nurse, Madison drew inspiration from a late, world-renowned artist.

Madison used snips of Michael Jackson songs to relate the role of the job to her judges.

“If anybody is a Michael Jackson fan, they know a lot of his music can associate with how you’re feeling whether it’s good, bad, young or old,” Madison said.

Madison began her speech by telling the story of how Jackson’s “Thriller” video was a thrilling experience for her as a child and being an LPN is a thrill as well.

“If the patient is Billie Jean, Ben, Ebony or Ivory, we’re going to take care of even dirty Diana,” Madison said in her speech. “Each patient is important to us. To sum it up, it’s a thrill knowing that we are in a place where we can make people healthier by educating them and informing them so they don’t get sick.”

Although the students were there to represent Warren County and compete, they were treated to something greater.

Madison and Brown were exposed to seasoned practical nurses that prepared them for life after graduation. They were mentored about different scenarios and the veteran nurses went through and showed how to handle them.

“Of course they prepare you for the (best) and worst that could happen. They stress that you pretty much have to cover yourself to protect your license. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you could ruin your life. Anything could happen,” Brown said.

“It’s a lot of expectations to be a nurse and you got to really be in it.”

All in all, the performance from the Class of 2016 in Saturday’s convention is a reflection of instructors Gwen Brown and Meshell Chambliss.

“It’s also a good feeling to know we made our instructors proud,” Brown said.