Your Stories: Saint Mary’s Celebrates Nurse Residency Graduation
April 14, 2024Categories: Awards and Recognition
Saint Mary’s Hospital Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is a one-year program designed to ensure a successful transition from a nursing school graduate to a competent, professional nurse. Eleven nurse residents were honored at a graduation ceremony on March 5, 2024. The ceremony began with a procession of the graduates proudly walking down the aisle behind a lighted lamp representing their dedication, compassion, and selfless work during the past year. As is tradition at Saint Mary’s graduations, references to Florence Nightingale and the symbol of light in nursing were present throughout the ceremony.
Kim Kalajainen, President and Shawna Edwards, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, congratulated the graduates and recognized their dedication, passion, bravery, and commitment to the nursing profession. Amy Mickolite and Judy Bellemare, Spiritual Care Team, offered an opening prayer and blessed the NRP graduation pins.
NRP graduate, Samantha Carreiro, RN, gave an inspirational class address focused on the cohort’s professional development and gratefulness for the guidance and support they received during their first year. A heartfelt thank you was extended to the family members, many in attendance, for the love, support, and encouragement they provided as our graduates prepared for a life of caring for others.
Nurses from Saint Mary’s School of Nursing (SON) Alumni Association were in attendance and honored for their enduring legacy of nursing excellence. Sally Silva RN, NRP coordinator, said, “The alumni are as active as ever serving our community, providing nursing scholarships, volunteering, and supporting local charities. They laid the foundation for the excellent care provided by Saint Mary’s nurses every day. We are forever connected to our alumni through our love of nursing and dedication to caring for our patients and community.” Annie Beierle RN, SMH SON Class of 1982 and a current nurse in SMH Post Anesthesia Care Unit, spoke to the graduates about “the power of compassion: a touch, a kind word, a smile.” She also emphasized the importance of self-care: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
A highlight of the ceremony was sharing the graduates’ personal reflections of why they chose nursing as they received their certificates. NRP graduate, Katie Weiser, RN, an accomplished opera singer and a nurse in the Critical Care Unit, sang beautiful renditions of "The Bells of St. Mary’s" and "The Prayer" which brought everyone to their feet. The ceremony closed with the graduates and all nurses in attendance standing together to recite “A Nurses Prayer.” The graduates presented their evidence-based projects following the graduation ceremony.
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