NMSU-A Nursing Graduates Represent the Future

Thursday evening, December 8th at the Tays Center, the Fall 2011 graduates of NMSU-A’s Nursing Program were celebrated with the traditional “Capping & Pinning” ceremony. A large audience of family, friends, and well wishers were present to pay honor to the 19 graduates, acknowledging their long hours of study, preparation, and success.

The feature of the celebration was each graduate receiving their pin (Nursing Pin photo) by special family members and receiving their cap (women) or band (men) from registered nurses. These 19 graduates are now ready to enter the nursing profession.

Keynote speaker was Kerry Bolin, RN-BC, MSN who spoke of the new frontiers of the profession, resulting from the amazing technological advances in medical science. The keynote speech was followed by the recognition of the August 2010 Dorothy Talbert Scholarship recipient, Jessica Neuhausel, who completed the NMSU-A nursing program under this scholarship and was presented a parting tribute of a stethoscope. Kirk Sadowski gave the history of the pin; Karen Sadowski provided a history of the nurse’s cap, and Tania Bohn, the history of the lighting of the lamps.

The celebration closed with the graduates reciting the “Nightingale Pledge” which is an adaptation of the Physician’s Hippocratic Oath. (Excerpt) “I solemnly pledge…I will be active in assisting others in safeguarding and promoting the health and happiness of mankind.” The pledge in its entirety exemplifies the dedication and honor of those reciting it to their chosen profession.