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A slide show of the students' activities throughout the year played as people found their seats in the Dorothy Corsberg before the ceremony began.
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Following an invocation by Aaron Edinger, Julie Brower, director of NJC's nursing programs, gave a welcome address thanking family and friends for their support.
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"Nursing school requires much commitment, dedication and determination," she said.
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Brower shared some of the things the students had to do to get where they are, including studying for tests with more than one right answer, filling out patient profiles and care plans and writing specialty papers and drug profiles. Students had to get up early and work evenings, some with the added responsibility of being parents.
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"It has been a privilege to watch these students grow and mature to very capable nurses and I'm very proud of each one of them," she said.
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"Nursing graduates, I want each of you to remember the work you do as a nurse is special, you have all been called to make a significant difference in the lives of your patients and their families. Take this calling seriously and enjoy your career."
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Instructor Betty Brunner was the guest speaker for the event.
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"I really do want to tell you that you are a very positive and very enthusiastic class," she said.
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Brunner talked about five words that define nursing -- knowledge, opportunity, caring, nurturing and communication.
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In discussing knowledge, she reminded the students that their learning is not over. "The learning process continues as long as you continue your career."
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She also encouraged the students to be willing to accept change as it comes along.
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About opportunity, Brunner said, "Nursing is an area that's absolutely exciting, it is not a stagnate type of occupation."
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"All of you have possibilities open to you that at this point, you may not even have envisioned or thought of."
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In talking about caring Brunner reminded the students that their patience should be the focus of the position they assume as a nurse and encouraged them not to be afraid to ask for help.
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Addressing nurturing, she reminded the students that patients have many more needs than just physical, including emotional, psychological, sociological and spiritual needs.
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"We need to give credibility to each one and
Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate Debbie Whipkey, representing the Quota Club, presents the Best Bedside Nurse Award to Nicole Vierow. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)
encourage and support those methods that meet those needs."?
Brunner encouraged the students to be nurturing with family members and other loved one's in the patient's life, as well as with fellow nurses.
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Additionally, she told the students how important good communication is with patients and fellow workers.
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"The kind of nurse that you are in the end is dependent on you," Brunner said. "You now have the basic education and you have the tools to be a nurse, but what you do with that knowledge and what you do with those tools is up to you."
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Following her remarks, co-class president Erin Witte congratulated her fellow graduates and thanked the nursing faculty,
as well as their family and friends, for their support.?
"We started this journey by walking into a room of strangers who were all there for a common goal, we are leaving as family," she said. "Through late night study sessions, early clinical mornings, tears and triumphs we have become more than classmates, we have become sisters in nursing."
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Witte talked about the importance of having empathy as a nurse and what it means.
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"Nursing is not a job or a task, but a service to others to ensure that they have the best quality of life possible."
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Associate professor Mary Lederhos recognized students who received a scholarship: Wendy Adamson, Nichole Albo, Abimbola Ayebusiwa, Kimberly Burr, Amanda Fiegel, Tiffany Maelzer, Krista Ober, Ashley Pippitt, Meghan Sandrige, Kristen Unrein and Erin Witte.
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There were also two special awards given out. Rob Nichols, president of the Rotary Club, presented the Highest Academic Average Award to Sherilyn Night and Debbie Whipkey, representing the Quota Club, presented the coveted Best Bedside Nurse Award to Nicole Vierow.
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Then it was time for the nurses to receive their pins.
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During a special pinning ceremony, Brunner and BJ Langdon presented Lederhos, a former student, with a pin in honor of her recently earning her master's degree.
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Graduates in this year's licensed practical nursing program include: Wendy Adamson, Nichole Albo, Abimbola Ayebusiwa, Kimberly Burr, Charlene Carrera, Chelsea Clouse, Amanda Fiegel, Anne Harnish, Shelby Harris, Chrystal Jones, Sherilyn Knight, Raylene Larson, Tiffany Maelzer, Mickaela McCreery, Jenae Morrison, Marcella Nicolet, Traci Nolan, Krista Ober, Ashley Pippitt, Meghan Sandridge, Jessica Sullivan, Kristen Unrein, Shawn Unrein, Nicole Vierow and Erin Witte.
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Callie Jones: (970) 526-9286; cjones@journal-advocate.com. Follow @CJones _JA on Twitter.
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