PRESQUE ISLE – The health care profession, which faces a shortage of workers at both the state and national level, welcomed 20 prospective new registered nurses recently as Northern Maine Community College held its annual pinning ceremony, which signifies the official entrance into the nursing field. The graduates are now eligible and prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain licensure as registered nurses.
Contributed photoTwenty senior students in the associate degree nursing program at Northern Maine Community College received their pins signifying their entry into the profession recently. The members of the Class of 2008 are, front row, from left: Andrea Jane Pratt, Trudi J. Smith, Heidi Dawn Carmichael Smith, Amy Nicole Savage, Alison M. Willette, Shelli D. Sanders and Rebecca L. Palmer-Bugby. Back row: Erik J. Vaughn, Nick Taxiarchis, Nicole Elizabeth Bennett, Tonya Donniel DuVal, Louise Albert Hamlin, Tammy MacDougall, Mallory Laura McKeil, Abby Rose McLaughlin, Jillian Alyse Miller, Jane Oliver-Moody, Jolene Marie Paul and William R. Milliard. Absent when the photo was taken was Tracy Marie Rossignol.
More than 200 family members, friends and college personnel gathered for the ceremony held at the Presque Isle Middle School. The event was highlighted by the presentation of a pin to each graduate by relatives or close friends who were selected for their important role as members of the student nurse’s support network.
“There is a tremendous crisis in this state with a shortage of care at the bedside,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “The role your faculty and the College community have prepared you to fill is one that will present many challenges. However, with those challenges come many rewards. When I think about nursing care, I reflect on the commitment those in the profession have for the patients they care for. As you go forth to work in the hospitals and other health care settings, remember your important role as advocates for your patients.”
Betty Kent-Conant, chair of NMCC’s nursing and allied health department, spoke on behalf of the faculty in congratulating and advising the county’s newest associate degree nurses.
“I join the nursing faculty in congratulating these men and women in their success in reaching this point in their careers. We welcome you into the profession as colleagues, and as people we will be working side-by-side with from this point forward,” said Kent-Conant. “We will look forward to working beside you in the clinical settings, as preceptors for future nursing students, and as members within the wonderfully rewarding and special profession of nursing.”
Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Maureen McLaughlin-Grant of The Aroostook Medical Center.
“You are parents, you are spouses, you work other jobs. It wasn’t easy to get through this,” McLaughlin-Grant told the nursing graduates. “You have embarked on an amazing journey. Nursing is as honorable a profession as you can get. You can’t change the music of your soul – so do what your heart sets you to do. Take pride in what you do and be respectful of the people you work with.”
Senior nursing students recognized during the May 16 ceremony were: Louise Hamlin, Tammy MacDougall, Abby McLaughlin, Jolene Paul and Tracy Rossignol, all of Presque Isle; Tonya DuVal of Caribou, Nick Taxiarchis and Eric Vaughn, both of Washburn; William Milliard of Fort Fairfield, Rebecca Palmer-Bugbee of Mapleton, Andrea Pratt of Chapman, Heidi Smith of Limestone, Trudi Smith of Mars Hill, Nicole Bennett and Alison Willette, both of Linneus; Jillian Miller of Littleton, Jane Oliver-Moody of Houlton, Shelli Sanders of Oakfield, Amy Savage of Patten, and Mallory McKeil of Woodstock, New Brunswick..
