by Christina Morgan | Aug 14, 2018 | News |
The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing celebrated the pinning of the largest number of students in the school’s 108-year history on Sunday, August 5. A total of 370 graduates were comprised of 276 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students, 12 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, and 11 advanced practice nurses who received Post-Master’s Certificates. An additional 71 students were unable to attend the ceremonies.
Pinning ceremonies are a treasured tradition in nursing and each nursing school has its own distinctive pin to identify its graduates. According to Vanderbilt Nursing Dean Linda D. Norman, DSN, FAAN, and Valere Potter Menefee Professor in Nursing, pinning ceremonies can be traced back to the crusades with modern significance beginning with Florence Nightingale who presented medals of excellence to her nursing graduates.
MSN students received the VUSN pin signifying their entrance to the advanced practice nursing profession, DNP students received lavaliers to attach to their nursing school pins, and post-master’s students received certificates denoting the completion of their specialty education beyond the master’s degree level.
Vanderbilt Nursing’s pinning ceremonies also awarded two students: Kristina Holmes with the Amy Frances Brown Prize for Excellence in Writing, and Anna Sizemore with the VUSN Alumni Association Award for Student Excellence in Service and Leadership to School and Community. Nine faculty members were also honored during the ceremonies with Sara K. Archer Awards for outstanding contributions to student learning.
To learn more about Vanderbilt Nursing’s pinning ceremonies for nursing graduates, visit here.
by Christina Morgan | Jun 15, 2018 | News |
The Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Nursing recently celebrated a major milestone: during the commencement ceremony on June 10, the 10,000th graduate walked across the stage to receive their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
The 2018 School of Nursing class included 210 students receiving bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees. They were the 112th class to graduate from the School of Nursing, the eldest school at the university.
Four awards were presented to graduates during the School of Nursing ceremony: the President’s Award and three Dean’s Awards to a Doctor of Nursing Practice student, graduate nursing student, and undergraduate nursing student.
A Community Engagement Award was also presented to Dynnette and Kenneth Hart who were chosen for their combined legacy which totals more than 100 years of service on two continents. Dynnette Hart is a retired associate dean emerita of the LLU School of Nursing.
During the commencement speech, graduates were encouraged not to accept the status quo as they enter their new careers, but to always look for ways to innovate and provide better service to the patients and families they serve. To learn more about this milestone achievement in the Loma Linda University School of Nursing, visit here.
by Christina Morgan | Mar 29, 2018 | News |
The University of Vermont (UVM) Medical Center has created a residency program to help new nursing graduates successfully transition to the workplace. The program is designed to help ease the transition from classroom to bedside and research shows that this kind of program promotes quality and safe care, and reduces turnover rates for first-year nurses.
The one-year experience is open to all graduating nurses hired by UVM Medical Center with licensing from an accredited school. The first class of new graduates consists of 23 nurses and the program will eventually graduate 75-90 nurses each year.
UVM’s Nurse Residency program is based on the Vizient and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Vizient/AACN) Nurse Residency Program. The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program has provided healthcare organizations with a transition-to-practice program for new graduate nurses since 2002 and is recognized by the Institute of Medicine as a model program.
Kate Fitzpatrick, Doctor of Nursing Practice and chief nursing officer, tells VTDigger.org, “Bringing the Vizient Nurse Residency to UVM Medical Center is an important part of our strategic plan for nursing. This program assures we’ll provide a welcoming, evidence-based experience for those transitioning to the profession. We know that when nurse leaders and educators engage with and support new graduates, it increases satisfaction and retention.”
UVM’s nurse residency curriculum includes lessons on leadership, critical decision-making, quality outcomes, and incorporating research-based standards into daily care. All class members are required to complete an evidence-based practice project during their residency year.
Sharing their experiences with other new nurses working in other units and specialties creates a sense of camaraderie between nurses in the program, setting them up for success as new nurses transitioning to the bedside for the first time. To learn more about UVM Medical Center’s nurse residency program, visit here.
