North Campus 2009 Nursing Program graduates. photo/Amanda King

Pinning Ceremony at North

Celebration of Nursing graduates

By: Amanda King

Posted: 5/31/09

Hundreds of family members and friends of CCAC North Campus Nursing students gathered to celebrate and take part in the traditional Pinning Ceremony, a time-honored event that formally welcomes graduating nursing students into the profession.

CCAC, acclaimed holder of the largest nursing program in the country, is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and its associate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

North Campus President Dr. Donna Imhoff led the processional of 67 students dressed in professional white scrubs to their seats May 8, 2009, to the sounds of stringed instruments, a new addition to the ceremony this year initiated by Rosemary Russell, North's Nursing Club advisor and associate professor of Nursing.

Master of Ceremony, Karen Cummins, professor of Nursing, explained to the audience the history of the pinning ceremony as a tribute to Florence Nightingale.

"A nurse and pioneer reformer, Florence Nightingale was known as the 'lady with the lamp,'" stated Cummins. "The tradition of candle lighting and the Nightingale pledge is to honor her morals. The act of pinning is the right of passage from academia to the profession of nursing."

Other speakers included Associate Dean of Nursing Maureen M. Pavlik, and Michelle Dellaria Doas, who both encouraged the graduates.

"You are the epitome of unselfishness," said Doas. "It [nursing] is about giving up yourself and having an open mind for new ideas. You will be welcomed where ever you go."

Student speakers included Web Section student Amy Spence and Nursing Club president Susie Wood, who offered enlightening words along with humorous reflections about the struggles of surviving the overkill of homework and clinicals while maintaining family responsibilities.

"I remember the times in my clinical rotations when my fellow students helped me out and made me laugh and when a patient thanked me for caring for him," Wood told the Voice.

Non-traditional nursing student Scott Catterall told the Voice he was amazed about all the material the students had to cover and retain.

"It was difficult, but not impossible," Catterall told the Voice.

Associate professor Brenda Schneider called each graduate's name as he or she headed to stage where professor Mary Cimador presented each with a rose and professors Russell and Paula Susi presented each a pin.

Once the candles were lit, the lights were dimmed and each student recited the Nightingale Nursing Pledge. Cummins closed the ceremony, and all proceeded to the Student Lounge for refreshments and a photo slideshow created by nursing student Carla Daw that depicted memories from the program.

Each member of the North Campus group of Nursing graduates now begins a new life as a nurse, charged with a final directive from Imhoff to "always remember--our lives are in your hands."

The Nursing Pinning Ceremony marks the crossing over point in the lives of dedicated people who began as students with the vision of achieving their goals of becoming nurses.

"It's about stepping across the academic threshold and into the professional threshold," Kevin Woodward, North Nursing Club secretary, told the Voice.