The iconic ceremony celebrates nursing students as they embark on their education.
This fall, students in North Park鈥檚 nursing program received their white coats in an iconic ritual honoring them for their 鈥渃ompassion and scientific excellence.”
鈥淭his ceremony confirms the support and mentoring you will receive from us as nurses and as your faculty,鈥� said Dr. Peggy Kotowski, the Baccalaureate Program Director for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Schools across the country hold similar ceremonies for new nursing students.
Keynote speaker Kathy Donofrio, a nurse at Swedish Hospital for nearly 30 years in cardiac care, said that she kept at her challenging job because colleagues become 鈥渓ike family. It becomes your home away from home.鈥�
鈥淗ave fun, be part of a team, ask a lot of questions, and make friends, not only with your fellow nurses, but other staff and even the physicians,鈥� she advised. 鈥淭hey will become your team.鈥�
Fourth-year nursing student Nicole Hansen offered words of encouragement to the new students.
鈥淭hese have been the most challenging but rewarding years of my life,鈥� Hanson said. 鈥淢y classmates and I have persisted through all kinds of adversity.鈥�
Go forth and set the world on fire.鈥擠r. Peggy Kotowski, Baccalaureate Program Director for SNHS
鈥淭his is just the beginning. You鈥檝e just finished your third week of nursing school. At times you will feel overwhelmed and stressed and say 鈥檞hy did I choose nursing?鈥欌�� Hanson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e all been there. The stress will all be worth it after your first patient. Everyone has to start somewhere.鈥�
Hanson summed up: 鈥淏eing a nurse is not just helping people but advocating for your patients and making sure they receive the best possible care.鈥�
After receiving their white coats, the students were given a blessing by Campus Pastor Terence Gadsden. Dr. Kotowski had some final words of advice: 鈥淕o forth and set the world on fire.鈥�