Your Stories: Saint Mary’s Celebrates Nurse Residents at Graduation Ceremony
October 2, 2024Categories: Colleague Corner
Saint Mary’s Hospital recently held a graduation ceremony to recognize the hard work and dedication of 23 registered nurses who started in July 2023 and successfully completed a one-year, nationally recognized Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program (NRP). Shawna Edwards, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer; Lisa Roy, MSN, RN, Manager, Nursing Professional Practice; and Sally Silva RN, NRP Coordinator, joined managers, directors, Nursing Professional Development Specialists, hospital colleagues from several departments, and families of the graduates to congratulate and recognize this milestone in their nursing career. Amy Mickolite and Judy Bellemare from the Spiritual Care Team offered an opening prayer and blessed the NRP graduation pins.
Saint Mary's Graduate Nurse Residency Program's 10th cohort
A beloved tradition at Saint Mary’s NRP graduations is sharing the graduates’ personal reflections when asked, “Why did you choose nursing?” Graduates described nursing as a calling to care for others and an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and the community. Many told of being inspired by nurses who cared for their loved ones. Stories were shared about family members who were nurses and role models for them. When asked, "Why nursing?", graduates also passionately described their unwavering commitment to improving health equity and access to healthcare for all.
Elizabeth Feest, RN (Graduate, Women and Infants Center) delivered an inspirational class address focused on recognizing the “many positive impacts we make at the bedside” and “the difference we make for members of the community.” Cheers and applause echoed through the auditorium at the completion of Liz’s speech. Erin Fusaro and Judea Marino were recognized for perfect attendance at every seminar throughout the year.
During the ceremony, a quote by Trinity Health’s nurse theorist, Dr. Jean Watson, was emphasized to honor the graduates and capture the importance of every patient encounter: “Maybe this one moment, with this one person, is the very reason we’re here on Earth at this time.” The graduation ceremony closed with the graduates and all nurses in attendance standing together to recite “A Nurses Prayer”. The graduates proudly presented their evidence-based projects following the ceremony.
Graduates
- Patrice Antoine, CCU,
- Jacob Brown, ED,
- Jessica Budd, ED, A
- llison Butwill, ED,
- Phylese Davis, Float Team,
- Catherine Desrochers, OR,
- Alexandra Escarfullery, Float Team,
- Alexandria Fabiano, Xavier 3,
- Elizabeth Feest, Women and Infants Center,
- Michael Feliciano, CCU,
- Erin Fusaro, Float Team,
- Abygail Hagley, CCU,
- Kaye-Loni Johnson, CCU,
- Samantha Lawlor, CCU,
- Logan Lussier, ED,
- Judea Marino, O’Brien 7,
- Casey McGrath, Intermediate Care,
- Leah Migliore, O’Brien 7,
- Elmira Sadiku, ED,
- Shanay Shirley, Women and Infants Center,
- Maria Tiberii, ED,
- Dale Varnum, ED,
- Madison Webster, Women and Infants Center