Berkeley College Pinning Ceremony Ushers 31 Nursing Graduates Into the Field During a Critical Time in Healthcare
New Generation of Healthcare Heroes Shares Excitement to Enter Workforce, Despite Challenges of COVID-19
Graduates of the Berkeley College School of Health Studies Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, many of whom served as frontline volunteers administering COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, celebrate their achievement at a pinning ceremony held at the Cosmopolitan in Wayne, NJ, on Friday, August 6, 2021.
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The Berkeley College School of Health Studies honored a new generation of healthcare heroes entering the workforce at a pinning ceremony for its nursing graduates on Friday, August 6, 2021, at the Cosmopolitan in Wayne, NJ. The ceremony recognized 22 graduates of the College’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and 9 graduates of the Practical Nurse program.
During the ceremony, speakers applauded the graduates for entering the healthcare field at a critical juncture, when an ongoing shortage of nurses has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You represent the core values of the nursing profession. One of those values is perseverance,” said Suzanne Mullings, PhD, RN, Chair, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies. “We learn from each other, we learn from our patients, and we push through. From this point on, you will be shaping the future of nursing.”
Many of the graduates served as healthcare volunteers in their communities at the height of COVID-19, including at a site in Clifton, NJ, which vaccinated about 5,000 local and state residents.
Faculty speaker Angelica Delacruz, DNP, RN, told the graduates it is their responsibility to pursue lifelong learning. “There is always something new to learn,” Delacruz said. “It is up to you to make sure you stay current to provide the best care possible.”
Photo Captions: (Left) Suzanne Mullings, PhD, RN, Chair, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies, addresses 31 nursing graduates during a pinning ceremony on Friday, August 6, 2021. Student speakers Emmanuella Paul, a graduate of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program (center), and Isabel Rodriguez, a graduate of the Practical Nurse program (right), share their journeys with classmates.
Emmanuella Paul of East Orange, NJ, a graduate of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, shared with her classmates advice from her mother that helped her reach her professional goals: “If you never try, then you never know what you can do,” she said. Paul thanked Berkeley College’s Nursing faculty – “the real heroes” – for their willingness to share their knowledge and prepare the graduates for the real world of healthcare.
“This journey has not been an easy one, being a mom, a wife and a full-time employee during the peak of COVID,” said Isabel Rodriguez of Paterson, NJ, a graduate of the Practical Nurse program who works as a Certified Medical Assistant for Hackensack Meridian Health. “It has been a blessing and an honor to have gone through this journey with you,” she told her classmates.
Berkeley College presented each graduate with a pin, symbolizing their transition into the profession, and the graduates recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge, a commitment to ethics and compassionate patient care.
Berkeley College celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2021. The theme commemorating this milestone is “Empowering Lives for 90 Years!” Visit the 90th Anniversary webpage for more information.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers continuing education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, NY, as well as in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,900 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for eight consecutive years. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers.
