{"id":220904,"date":"2023-05-11T11:24:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T15:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=220904"},"modified":"2023-05-11T14:19:22","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T18:19:22","slug":"pinning-ceremony-celebrates-nursing-grads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2023\/05\/11\/pinning-ceremony-celebrates-nursing-grads\/","title":{"rendered":"Pinning Ceremony Celebrates Nursing Grads"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gianna DeRienzo, a graduating senior at ÌÇÐÄvlog, remembers opening her acceptance letter to the School of Nursing \u201cand jumping up and down like a kid.\u201d Little did she know what the next four years would entail, including, she recalls, grueling 12-hour clinical days \u2013 \u201can experience that not many other majors can relate to.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the School of Nursing\u2019s observation of National Nurses Week and National Nurses Month, the University held a traditional pinning ceremony, a rite of passage held on May 5 that marks the transition from student nurse to professional nurse. The graduates celebrated with family, friends and faculty, a formal event that paid tribute to their journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have seen us grow, from being scared to wake a patient up for morning vitals, to administering meds with confidence,\u201d DeRienzo, who served as student speaker, told the gathering.<\/p>\n

\"Four
The School of Nursing recognized the Class of 2023 with a formal pinning ceremony, a traditional rite of passage for graduating nurses. Celebrating their achievements, from left, are Aisha Shabbir, Aleida Smack, Jenna Khansa and Madison Lawton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American Nurses Association chose for 2023 the theme \u201cYou Make a Difference.\u201d Faculty speaker Elsie Alabi-Gonzalez, herself a graduate of Montclair\u2019s nursing programs, tweaked the phrase, telling the nursing graduates, \u201cYou make the<\/em> difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe encounter people at all stages of life. At any given time, there is a nurse watching as one individual takes their first breath, while another nurse watches someone take their last breath. In both instances and everything in between, our impact is felt,\u201d Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n

Last year, the School of Nursing held its pinning ceremony live on NBC\u2019s The Today Show<\/em><\/a> as part of the program\u2019s Nurses Week. While this year\u2019s ceremony wasn\u2019t seen by millions, it was memorable for the family and friends of the 53 graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing, RN to BSN and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of you have had your blood pressure taken more times than you would like to admit, or remember, and others have had to sit through physical assessments and patient education. You complain of a headache and now you have to play 20 questions with your student nurse,\u201d Gonzalez joked.<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/h2>\n
\"A
Every graduate was presented with a stole adorned with the nursing pin. Yaakov Diner, who earned his Master of Science in Nursing, receives his pin from his wife, Tamara Leah Diner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Two
Sisters Melanie, left, and Jazmin Carvajal are overcome with emotions as they pinned each other. They earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
David Mansaray, who earned his Master of Science in Nursing, is honored at the pinning ceremony by his daughter and cousin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Elsie
Clinical Specialist Elsie Alabi-Gonzalez delivers faculty remarks. She is a graduate of Montclair\u2019s nursing programs, earning degrees in the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing programs. \u201cWe have watched you all blossom from people who were hesitant to enter a patient\u2019s room to nurses in training who create and implement a plan of care,\u201d she told this year\u2019s graduates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
Gianna DeRienzo, right, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and served as president of the Student Nurses Association, received the \u201cClinical Excellence Award\u201d from Pre-licensure Nursing Director Elizabeth Zweighaft. Awards also went to Catherine Munkittrick and Helena Van Vliet for \u201cAcademic Excellence in Nursing,\u201d Layan Rhazi and Aisha Shabbir for \u201cSpirit of Nursing\u201d and Melissa Fede for \u201cClinical Excellence.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Graduates
Graduates recite the International Council of Nurses Pledge, committing to uphold the ethical and professional standards of nursing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
Family, faculty and friends celebrated the graduates\u2019 achievements. Yasmeen Salman, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is photographed after the ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
From L to R: Nursing faculty members Elsie Alabi-Gonzalez, Nastassia Davis, Harriet Sarkodie, Marnie Weiss, Courtney Reinisch, Sarah Kelly, Yanick Joseph, Rachel Lyons, Marybeth Duffy and Deb Brouwer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A festival ending with balloons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Story by Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a>. Photos by John J. LaRosa<\/a><\/p>\n

You May Also Like:<\/strong><\/p>\n