Nursing Majors Earn Pin at Ceremony

Nearly 70 new nurses at the School of Nursing & Health Studies received their nursing pins at a special ceremony on Friday, May 15, held in the Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium.

"We're here to celebrate," Sharon Radzyminski, interim chair of the department of nursing, told the soon-to-be graduates. "We're here to celebrate your accomplishments. We're here to celebrate your future. ...You are the people who are going to change health care."

During the event, Jean Farley (NHS'72), an instructor of nursing, spoke about the significance of the nursing pin. "Georgetown became a surrogate family that not only prepared you to be a professional nurse, but a citizen of the world," Farley said.

Thirty-two of the students will graduate on Saturday from the traditional, four-year nursing program. In addition, 36 will complete the "second degree" program, which allows individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher in another field to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing in 16 months.

Graduating seniors selected two classmates to address the 350-strong crowd. Jill Pallotta (NHS'09) represented the traditional students, and Cristina Baldia (NHS'09) represented the second degree students.

"Today, we receive our nursing pins which represent the education and experiences we've had at Georgetown," Pallotta said. "...Remember that we became nurses to serve others [and] to promote health and well-being of all. We are the ones at the bedside from birth to death, offering care and compassion to patients."

Baldia discussed her classmates' diverse backgrounds, including master's degrees in other fields and career experience in marketing, public relations, and research. The group even included a former professor with a Ph.D. Despite their differences, Baldia said the group came together to support the whole.

"As a group, not only have we supported each other in our times of frustration and periods of struggle, we have been there for one another to celebrate and rejoice in each others' happiness and successes," Baldia said.