RCGC Nursing Ceremony Celebrates Graduates and #1 Ranking

College officials, Board of Trustee members, faculty, friends and family gathered at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) on Monday, May 13, to applaud the 79 men and women who have dedicated the past two years to pursuing a career in nursing.

A time-honored nursing tradition, the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony celebrates the educational accomplishments of students who have chosen a career dedicated to helping others. Rich in symbolism, the ceremony represents initiation into the nursing profession and dates back to the 1860s when Florence Nightingale received the Red Cross of St. George for her service to the injured during the Crimean War. After receiving their pins from Dean of Nursing Dr. Susan Hall, the nurses recited the Nightingale Pledge.

“You have taken a vow to care for everyone in this room,” Dr. Brenden Rickards, vice president of Academics, said to the group of smiling graduates during the ceremony. “You are in the most important profession. Thank you for the dedication you have shown.”

College President Frederick Keating proudly announced to the audience that for the third consecutive year, RCGC has the distinction of being ranked the number one nursing program in New Jersey by RegisteredNursing.org. Adding to the evening’s excitement was the news that RCGC had been notified by RNCareers.org of another #1 state ranking, thanks to graduates achieving a 98.37 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate. The NCLEX-RN exam is the licensure exam used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to help assess a student's competency. RNCareers.org ranked RCGC 18^th among colleges and universities across the nation.

For more information on RCGC’s award-winning Nursing program, visit RCGC.edu/Nursing. Rowan College at Gloucester County is located at 1400 Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.