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Pinning Ceremony held for Northeast nursing students

Pinning Ceremony held for Northeast nursing students

NORFOLK, NE – Associate degree nursing and practical nursing students received their nursing pins during a special ceremony recently at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

During the ceremony, the graduating nursing students received their pins from family members or a close friend who has helped them along their journey.

“Today, a dream comes true for 66 nursing students,” said Dr. Karen Weidner, director of nursing. “It is fitting that we celebrate the accomplishments of the nursing graduates as we also celebrate National Nurses Week.”

Weidner said the observance is the culmination of the students’ initial journey to professional nursing education.

“The annual ceremony is a bridge from nursing’s past to nursing’s future and is a time-honored nursing school tradition. It signifies the official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses.”

The history of the pinning ceremony goes back to the Crusades of the 12th century. The modern ceremony dates back to the mid-19th century when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her tireless service to the injured during the Crimean War. To share the honor, she in turn presented a medal of excellence to her brightest graduates.

In addition to the pinning ceremony, one associate degree nursing and one practical nursing student were presented the Essence of Nursing Award for their consistent academic effort, caring actions, positive motivation toward classroom learning and clinical experience, and professional behaviors.   

Brooke Iverson, Albion, ADN student and president of the Northeast Student Nurse Association, and Heather Grayson, Norfolk, practical nursing student, were honored with the award.

Upon completion of the first two semesters of nursing studies at Northeast, students are eligible to take the National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed practical nurses. Students who hold a 3.0 grade point average in their nursing courses are eligible to complete the last two semesters of the Northeast program and take the National Council of Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses.

Students who graduate with an associate degree in nursing are eligible to continue their studies for a bachelor of science degree in nursing. The general education courses for a bachelor of science in nursing can be taken at Northeast Community College.

Students who were pinned with the Associate Degree Nursing pin include:                                                                                                                                                

Nebraska

Albion – Brooke Iverson, Anna Rozeboom and Aubrey Schriver; Atkinson – Rachael Osborne; Clearwater – Sara Parks; Cody – Olyvia Barnes; Fordyce – Haley Tunink; Hampton – Miranda Feddern; Hickman – Kendra Hagberg; Lynch – Brianne Dekay; Lyons – Amber Rief; Madison – Erin Arnold, Regina Kuchar, Elizabeth Offner, and Brenda Rios; Meadow Grove – Lindsay Ottis; Newcastle – Nicole Schram; Norfolk – Darien Apfel, Katelyn Clark, Ellie Eschliman, Randa Napier, Jessa Tiedtke, and Robyn Werner; O’Neill - Amy Moore and Abby Vogt; Ponca – Rachel Krause; Randolph – Lindsey Sievers and Mackenzie Thies; Springview – Burgandy Bartos; Stanton – Abbey Fox and Kyley Reese; Stuart - Callie Evans; Wausa – Lisa Nissen; Winside – Lisa Farran, Natasha Jensen, and Paula Russell.                                                           

Out of State

IA, Arion – Sara Hansen; SD, Yankton – Mishaela Porkorny.

Students who were pinned with the Practical Nursing pin include:

Nebraska

Bancroft – Jennifer Reifsteck; Bassett – Hollie Morton and Kelsey Venenga; Battle Creek – Kourtney Hoefler; Bellwood – Paige Birkel; Clarkson – Leslie Urbanek; Creighton – Melinda Murphy; Emmet
Erin Judge; Hoskins – Tegan Karella; Lincoln – Christopher Wood; Lynch – Madison Rossmeier;
Madison – Jordan Freudenburg and Monica Perez; Meadow Grove – Tanya Sharples; Norfolk
Audrey Blum, Carrie Cooper, Heather Grayson, Ashley Hoferer, Angela Lange, Paige Schwager, and Christina Scott; Oakland – Alicia Isner; Pierce – Emily Willard; Springview – Sophia Sawle; St. Edward – Whitney Wurdeman; South Sioux City – Yvonne Basilio; West Point – Jamie Petz.    

Out of State

NY, Long Beach – Krystal Spanopoulas.  

The majority of the practical nursing students have chosen to continue in the associate degree nursing program at Northeast.                                                  

Each nursing school, at every level of education, has its own unique pin which is worn on the nursing uniform.  The nursing school pin that graduates of the Northeast Community College’s associate degree nursing and licensed practical nursing program receive is symbolic of nursing’s heritage and tradition. 

 

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                                                              PHOTO CUTLINE

 

Nicole Schram, Newcastle, receives her associate degree nursing (ADN) pin from her parents, Rick and Julie Schram, during a ceremony recently in the Cox Activities Center at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. Schram was one of 38 ADN students and 28 practical nursing students at Northeast to take part in the ceremony.