Hudson County Community College will honor 66 graduates at the college’s RN Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony on Thursday in Jersey City.
The graduates will begin with the traditional procession and be welcomed by HCCC Nursing Program Director Dr. Lori Byrd. After the ceremonial presentation of pins and Nursing Program awards, along with the time-honored candle-lighting ceremony, College Lecturer Carmen Pelardis will lead the graduates in reciting the International Nurses’ Pledge.
The entire event is rich with symbolism and meaning.
The pinning ceremony formalizes the transition from student to nurse. The candle-lighting ceremony commemorates Florence Nightingale as “lady with the lamp” and symbolizes nurses’ night rounds. With the pledge, graduates promise to provide compassionate care for the sick and injured, alleviate suffering and promote health, respect the diversity of people of all races, cultures and faiths, strive for excellence, maintain confidentiality and uphold the integrity of the nursing profession.
Students in the HCCC Associate in Science in Nursing Program benefit from outstanding faculty, the state-of-the-art nursing skills/practice laboratory, flexible day, evening and weekend class and clinical scheduling, a long-established history of student success on the RN licensing exam and strong articulation agreements.
The HCCC program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and New Jersey Board of Nursing and includes a theoretical base of general education and science courses, together with a range of nursing theory and diverse practical course work that prepares graduates for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
The national shortage of health care professionals underscores the positive impact of new nursing program graduates. Each year through 2032, Registered Nurses will be needed to fill 193,100 projected nursing job openings, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. New Jersey, which currently has eight to nine RNs for every 1,000 people, offers incentives for students to pursue health care industry credentials in higher education.
Last year, New Jersey selected HCCC as the first institution of higher education in the state to participate in the health care segment of the Pay It Forward Program that provides zero-interest loans and non-repayable stipends.
