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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, we celebrate the educational success and journey that 37 Practical Nurses and 46 Associate Degree nurses have completed,” said Dr. Karen Weidner, director of nursing programs. “There have been many quizzes, tests, lab experiences, clinicals and study sessions in your pursuit of this academic achievement thus far, and we are so very proud of you all.”

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 (ADN) and two practical nursing students 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.  

Michaela Nitz, Dixon, ADN student, Samantha Brester, Howells, and Aaron Peterson, Norfolk, practical nursing students, were honored with the award.

Laura Ruge, Elgin, president of the Student Nurses Association, gave the student address at the ceremony.

New to the ceremony this year was the singing of the national anthem, which was performed by ADN student Jason Seger, Atkinson.

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

Ainsworth - Amy Cook
Atkinson - Jason Seger
Battle Creek
- Julie Nelson
Bristow - Mary Ruda
Clarkson - Kathryn Baumert
Clearwater - Cassidy Steskal
Creighton - Khristina Stevens
Dixon – Michaela Nitz, Laura Showen
Emerson - Rebecka Mackling
Elgin - Laura Ruge
Hartington – Andrew O’Brien
Hershey - Kourtney Hart
Humphrey - Kamara Hackerott
Lincoln - Kimberly Dickerson
Meadow Grove - Heather Salmon
Norfolk – Amberly Erickson, MaKenzie Gordan, Evelyn Kelly, Melissa Green, Brittni Merchant, Yvonne Mezegue, Makel Sazama, Zoe Serres, Allison Soward, Dora Strayer, LeAnn Sweigard, Grace Wapelhorst, Alyson Wilke
North Platte - Jaime Titus
O’Neill - Rita Sterns
Orchard - Marissa Nelson
Papillion - Tegan Nissen
Pierce - Brooklyn Houdek
Stanton - Shana Fry, Sara Vollbrecht
Superior - Bailey Williams
Sutherland - Hannah Hansen
Tilden - Ranee Keehn, Tanya Sharples
Waterbury - Mariah Kramer
Wausa – Cindi Bruckner
Wayne - Lexi Allen
West Point - Jade Duhsmann
Winside – Dominique Kelberlau
Wisner - Charlotte Wolff

Students who were pinned with the Practical Nursing pin include:

Battle Creek - TyLynn Johnson
Blair - Madison Kment
Bristow - Jennifer Holmberg
Elgin – Amanda Thomas
Hartington – Megan Leise
Hoskins - Nichole Lashley
Howells - Samantha Brester
Madison - Haley Hart, Laura Sanchez
Meadow Grove - Alishia Nelson, LaCash Howard
Neligh - Hallie Knutson
Newman Grove - Rebekah Rast
Niobrara – Audra Strom
Norfolk - Madyson Doggett, Tiffani Elwood, Lakyn McCarter, Aaron Peterson, Angelica Rocha, Jacob Steiner
Orchard - Amanda Schaaf
O’Neill - Kaylee Harvey, Breanna Hedstrom, Lindsay Welsh, Sydney Zahm
Osceola - Brittany Merry
Osmond – Tamarie Vogt
Petersburg - Dana Pelster
Plainview -  Pamela Albin, Jennifer Nelson
Rising City – Natalie Wingard
Spencer - Alyssa Ludwig
Stanton
- Brittany Lorimor
Wayne – Tabitha Belt
West Point - Anna Hansen
Wisner - Heidi Marksmeier

Out of State

IA, Sioux City - Michelle Terrones

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 

 

Angelica Rocha, Norfolk, practical nursing student at Northeast Community College, receives her nursing pin from her son, Christopher, while other family members look on during the college’s annual Nurse Pinning Ceremony recently. Forty-six associate degree nursing and thirty-seven practical nursing students received their nursing pins during the special ceremony.