The Next Class Of Frontline Nurses

he Next Class Of Frontline Nurses Graduates Kingsborough Community College

Nursing Pinning Virtual Ceremony 2021

The Next Class Of Frontline Nurses Graduates Kingsborough Community College

Sixty-nine Kingsborough Community College (KCC) students took the Nightingale Pledge via Zoom at today’s virtual nurses pinning ceremony, marking the end of their training to become registered nurses.

Several KCC students were awarded scholarships for going above and beyond: Matthew Ramirez, Monica Wiszowaty, and James Gilmartin were awarded Andrew Wadler Awards; Isra Saqib was awarded the Rita Guiffre Scholarship; Victoria Havens, the Nursing Alumni Scholarship; and Maryna Kurbakova-Deblasio, the Gitel Kleinbart and Doris Schuldman Scholarship.

“In some ways, you could say going to nursing school during a pandemic is like being thrown to the wolves. But through hard work, and the support of our families, friends, classmates, study groups, and professors, we graduate today leading the pack,” noted nursing graduate Victoria Havens, as her classmates were preparing to take the pledge. “We’ve learned that medicine is a team effort. Through collaboration, and sharing knowledge, we can and will make this world a healthier place. We’ve learned that nursing is not just a career, but a calling. From this day forward, we will be the ones with the lamps lighting the way for our patients, our co-workers, and future nurses.”

The outgoing president of the KCC nursing club, Paola Vera, offered thoughts about how little the cohort of nursing students realized their lives would change after being accepted to the program in December 2019. “You want to sleep at a decent time? Forget about it. You want to go out with friends? Nope. Family events during exam week? We can’t make it. So many sacrifices had to be made – and to add to that, the challenges of the pandemic. Even through the trials and tribulations, it didn’t hold any of us back. We adapted, we showed resilience, and we overcame as a team.”

In addition to learning the skills needed to become an outstanding nurse, Vera said she found lifelong friends at Kingsborough. “We became each other’s family away from our own family. We became each other’s tutors, cheerleaders, and therapists.” They also helped each other master the challenging material via late-night zoom study sessions and WhatsApp group chats.

“I enjoyed clinicals the most,” she shared. “Working hands-on with patients and being able to apply what I learned from our amazing professors gave me the confidence I needed to keep going. I’m a helper, so the ability to do the littlest things like getting patients ice, cleaning their wounds, or just chatting and getting to know their stories made me realize that, wow, this is hard, but this is exactly what I want to do.”

Provost Joanne Russell acknowledged the challenges this year’s student nurses faced. “Your chosen field of work requires not only a rigorous education, but also integrity, compassion, and professionalism. I commend you for your success in this demanding course of study during this turbulent time in our society and urge you to press on and represent the nursing profession with excellence. You have earned your pin.”

President Claudia V. Schrader congratulated the class for persevering over the past two years and thanked the students’ family and friends for supporting them while they were focusing on their studies, “all for a good cause”. “What you’re about to embark on, being a part of the front line and an essential worker, is so important. I want you to know that we are proud of you, we’re rooting for you, and we’re grateful for the service you will render to families across New York City. You should be proud of yourselves!”

“I must say that I admire your ability to adapt and thrive during these most difficult of times,” added Nursing Department Chair Maggie Weeks. “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.’ You certainly have proven this is true.”

“You’re about to end one journey and embark on the next,” noted Weeks. “You are probably a little apprehensive about what lies ahead, but. I know that each and every one of you is up to the challenge. We all want you to succeed. We all want you to join us in this wonderful profession as a registered nurse.”

“I leave you with a quote from Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel’,” concluded Weeks, before encouraging all to get vaccinated for their own protection, as well as those around them. “As registered nurses, you should always remember this. Remember the nurses who showed dedication, love, caring, and compassion to so many of our loved ones when we could not be there for them. These nurses should be your role models.”

Watch the pinning ceremony on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/J05DHcquako

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