Hudson County Community College to Honor RN Nursing Program Graduates at Pinning Ceremony
June 11, 2024
Graduates, who will help reduce the nursing shortage, will take the International Nurses’ Pledge at the ceremony.
June 11, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will honor sixty-six graduates at the College’s
RN Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, at the HCCC Culinary
Conference Center at 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ.
The graduates will begin with the traditional procession and be welcomed by HCCC Nursing Program Director, Dr. Lori Byrd. After the ceremonial presentation of pins and Nursing Program awards along with the time-honored candle-lighting ceremony, College Lecturer Carmen Pelardis will lead the graduates in reciting the International Nurses’ Pledge.
Pictured here, graduates of Hudson County Community College’s RN Nursing Program.
The entire event is rich with symbolism and meaning. The pinning ceremony formalizes the transition from student to nurse. The candle-lighting ceremony commemorates Florence Nightingale as “lady with the lamp” and symbolizes nurses’ night rounds. With the pledge, graduates promise to provide compassionate care for the sick and injured, alleviate suffering and promote health, respect the diversity of people of all races, cultures, and faiths, strive for excellence, maintain confidentiality, and uphold the integrity of the nursing profession.
Students in the HCCC Associate in Science in Nursing Program benefit from outstanding faculty; the state-of-the-art nursing skills/practice laboratory; flexible day, evening, and weekend class and clinical scheduling; a long-established history of student success on the RN licensing exam; and strong articulation agreements. The HCCC program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and New Jersey Board of Nursing and includes a theoretical base of general education and science courses together with a range of nursing theory and diverse practical course work that prepares graduates for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
The national shortage of health care professionals underscores the positive impact of new nursing program graduates. Each year through 2032, registered nurses will be needed to fill 193,100 projected nursing job openings, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. New Jersey, which currently has eight to nine RNs for every 1,000 people, offers incentives for students to pursue health care industry credentials in higher education.
Last year, New Jersey selected HCCC as the first institution of higher education in the state to participate in the health care segment of the Pay It Forward Program that provides zero interest loans and non-repayable stipends. The HCCC A.S. in Nursing Program was selected for its proven, high-quality training, and track record of strong employment outcomes, employer relationships, and experience serving diverse learners. More than 80% of HCCC students receive financial assistance to complete their degree requirements. HCCC Nursing Program RN graduates have a 92.4% NCLEX pass rate and 96.6% job placement rate. More information about the program can be accessed at https://www.hccc.edu/programs-courses/academic-pathways/nursing-health/nursing-as/index.html.