RCGC Nursing Ceremony Celebrates Graduation Pinning & #1 Ranking

College officials, Board of Trustee members, faculty, friends and family gathered at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) on Monday, May 7, to applaud the 42 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. The ceremony, which is rich in symbolism, signifies 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, the nurses recite the Nightingale Pledge.

“You are the best of the best,” RCGC President Frederick Keating told the group of smiling graduates during the ceremony. “This College could not be prouder. Thank you for what you have chosen to do.”

Before concluding his speech, President Keating asked Dr. Susan Hall, the dean of Nursing and Allied Health, to come to the podium to accept an award. For the second consecutive year, RCGC has the distinction of being ranked the number one Nursing program in New Jersey.

A study conducted by RegisteredNursing.org examined 40 New Jersey Nursing programs, which included Associate in Nursing, Bachelors in Nursing and Direct-Entry Masters in Nursing programs. Programs were rated based on the number of graduates produced who are able to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is the licensure exam used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to help assess a student's competency. RCGC graduates from the class of 2017 achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the first attempt on the licensure exam, considerably higher than the national pass rate of 84.24 percent (NCSBN.org).

“This is for all of you,” said Hall holding up the award. “The success of the RCGC Nursing program is due to many components. The ongoing support from the College Board of Trustees, the College administration and the dedicated faculty, staff and students demonstrate that there is no single factor that leads to the success of our graduates. We look forward to maintaining the high standards that have been set in place to educate safe, effective and competent caregivers.”

Vice President of Academic Services Dr. Linda Hurlburt, who is also a nurse, added, “This is the best profession in the world. You are the person that people look to for care and compassion. You make a difference in everything you do.”

Nursing grad friends Julia Cendejas, Allison Golden and Amy Parmiter are eager to go out into the world and make a difference. Cendejas of Mount Royal, a former Roadrunner soccer player, was determined to get into RCGC’s nursing program, and once accepted dedicated many long hours to her studies. “It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do,” said Cendejas. “I feel incredible.”

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.

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