'Not Just a Profession, But a Purpose': Berkeley College Nursing Graduates Prepare to Lead with Compassion and Expertise
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
PREPARE TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND EXPERTISE
Photo Caption: The Berkeley College School of Health Studies recognized 40 graduates of the College’s Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Practical Nurse programs during pinning ceremonies on Friday, December 15, 2023.
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See the Photos: Click here to view photos from the Berkeley College School of Health Studies pinning ceremonies for nursing graduates.
The Berkeley College School of Health Studies honored a new generation of healthcare heroes entering the workforce at pinning ceremonies for its nursing graduates on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ. The ceremonies recognized 40 graduates of the College’s Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) and Practical Nurse (PN) programs.
“Nurses are quite simply the heart of healthcare,” said Patricia Greer, JD, Berkeley College Provost. “The care that you will provide to your patients over the course of your time as a nurse plays such a critical role in the fabric of our society. Thank you for pursuing the nursing profession, and attending to the mind, soul, heart, and body of your future patients.”
“Your determination, compassion, professionalism, and motivation in never giving up your dream to become a nurse has come true,” said Jenny Sena, DHSc, PA-C, Dean, Berkeley College School of Health Studies. “This is something you should be proud of and carry with you the rest of your lives.”
Photo Caption: The Berkeley College School of Health Studies recognized 40 graduates of the College’s Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (left) and Practical Nurse (right) programs during pinning ceremonies on Friday, December 15, 2023.
“I am confident that you are leaving here having learned one of the most important lessons in nursing,” said Angelica Delacruz, DNP, CPNP-PC, RN, CNE, CHSE, Chair, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies. “The meaning of rigor, grit, caring, teamwork, and resilience.”
“The greatest gift you can offer your patients is care – an imprint that transcends titles or academic accolades,” said Camile Richards, RN, CNE, Professor, Nursing, Berkeley College School of Health Studies, who served as Faculty Speaker for the ceremonies. She commended the graduates for making “the profound choice to pursue a career that promises not just a profession, but a purpose.”
Earlier this year, a study by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, the biggest union of registered nurses in New Jersey, found that a third of nurses have left the bedside in hospitals in the past three years. The study also reported that the average age of nurses is 52 years, with many moving close to retirement.
Tiffany Coronado of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, and Veronica Werner of North Arlington, NJ, served as Student Speakers for the LPN to BSN and PN graduating classes, respectively.
“If I could define dedication in a few words, it would be the Berkeley College Nursing Class of 2023,” said Coronado, who completed her Practical Nurse certificate at Berkeley College in 2016 before pursuing her Bachelor’s degree. “Looking back on all of this today, I am filled with such profound joy and gratitude. Nursing school is a journey. It changes a person.”
“We have heard all of our professors stress that we are not here to memorize and move on, but to make us competent nurses with the critical thinking skills we will use every day,” Werner said. “These skills that we have learned and mastered are what have brought us to this successful moment.”
After receiving their nursing pins, the graduates recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge, promising to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession.
Photo Caption: Tiffany Coronado of Lake Hopatcong, NJ (left), and Veronica Werner of North Arlington, NJ (right), served as Student Speakers for the Berkeley College LPN to BSN and PN graduating classes, respectively.
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 New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 3,500 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 10 consecutive years. Berkeley College was also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2023-2024 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
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