Hail the new Nightingales

Hail the new NightingalesAmar B Shrestha2768, Woodland CreekLoop, Kissimmee, Fl-34744Ph: 407-343-1328 Downtown Baptist Church in PineStreet, Orlando, was host to an unusual event on 7th December 2007

Hail the new Nightingales

Amar B Shrestha

2768, Woodland Creek Loop, Kissimmee, Fl-34744

Ph: 407-343-1328

 

Downtown Baptist Church in Pine Street, Orlando, was host to an unusual event on 7^th December 2007. Unusual, because one does not hear much about graduation ceremonies being organized inside churches and this, the occasion, was heralded as a ‘pinning’ ceremony of newly graduated students of nursing from the Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences.

 

However, one cannot but admire the thought that must have gone into the decision to hold the function in the Downtown Baptist Church. Two score and more new nurses in their starched white uniforms (countenances: some shining with excitement, some serious and contemplative) glided down the aisles to make their way on to the podium, signaling the commencement of the program. This, in itself, was a moment that brought thoughts to mind of further steps that that these young people, now trained and ready, would be taking part in a journey that would be devoted largely to the caring of the sick and the infirm. A calling, as it were. So, what more appropriate a place than the grave but dignified environs of a well defined and marvelously designed church to have the ceremonies in?

 

Equally, the end of the program saw the, now real life nurses, stride confidently down the aisles with an air of definite purpose, and, to give added impetus to the significance of the occasion, they held brightly flickering candles in their hands. This, the flickering candles, reminding all of that most revered of all professionals, in this most noblest of professions, Florence Nightingale and her ever-at-hand lamp. Deviating slightly from this serious line on this solemn and vital profession, one must also concede that the rows of new nurses - some sitting prim and proper, some a bit more nonchalant in posture – all nonetheless, happy and exhilarated at passing out from a most exacting course – all of them, they reminded one of the brave, efficient young nurses in ‘Pearl Harbor’. ‘Pearl Harbor’ – perhaps one of the few movies to have done true justice to America’s courageous Nightingales. Anyway, the graduation ceremony of Dec 7^th at the Downtown Baptist Church did bring to mind the movie and the nurses it portrayed so admirably. Such was the occasion. Such were the nurses, particularly, the demeanor they displayed.

 

Not that it was all a seriously driven affair. The two and a half hour function was punctuated at times by some sweetly rendered songs and, at times, by fully throttled lungs that gave new meaning to the phrase, ‘blasting out a note’. No doubt, the singers, of both sorts, must be fully appreciated for their fervor, they being those from among the students themselves and not professionals in this field. However, professionals they are now, in a different field – one that carries much more gravity than most others. A profession that will test their resolve again and again in the days to come. This, a fact that all of them undoubtedly are well aware of, going by the repeated use of the word, ‘challenging’ in Nurse Sibyl Smith’s ASN Tribute. A challenging course, challenging subjects, challenging curricula, all leading towards most definitely, a truly challenging career.

 

Forty-seven young men and women (majority by far, women) graduated as Associates of Science with a Major in Nursing while six (a bit older, and wiser, of course) graduated with the degree, Bachelor of Science with a Major in Nursing. Among the latter was a married couple. Actually, the whole affair seemed to be one in which family seemed to be deeply involved. Thus, during the ‘pinning’ ceremony at the end of the function, one could see that there were many moms, aunts, sisters and sister in laws (themselves, Registered Nurses), pinning the coveted and hard earned nursing pins on to the lapels of their own kith and kin.  A lot of whoops and loud clapping from the jam-packed benches, a testimony of huge and wholehearted family/friends support, accompanied the proceedings. Right at the beginning, it needed a few well-said words by Dr. Janice Preston, Professor and Chair, Department of Nursing, to make clear that too many whoops might not really be appropriate for the occasion, or the site. “Clapping, of course, is fine.”

 

The proud faculty members sitting on the front center row were given a standing ovation to honor them their efforts, as was a similar ovation given to the graduates for coming through it all very successfully indeed. Some of the most successful were recognized with Special Recognition Awards and one of the most outstanding students was conferred with the Florida Hospital’s Mission Excellence Award.

 

At the end of it all - a joyous occasion no doubt, for students, family and faculty – one came away with Jasmin Carbrera’s huskily rendered ‘My Life is in Your Hands’ still reverberating in one’s ears and Sherlou Hebing and Amy Martinez’s duet, ‘You Raise Me Up’ echoing within. Meaningful lyrics of ‘The Things we Do’ by Careeta Maxwell, another ASN Graduate, lingered on in the mind as well, and the class response by Malissa Stone (B Sc, Major in Nursing) - a well executed presentation that was participant inclusive – caused quite a flutter amongst the large gathering, what with the speaker requesting one and all to stand up by turns. Which everyone certainly did – after all, it was a seasoned nurse who was giving the orders – and well trained at that.

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