This past Saturday, Oct. 25, marked an exciting milestone for members of the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies Class of 2028.
Emerging nurses celebrated their clinical initiation ceremony, which marks the beginning of their clinical rotations. Clinical Rotations give students the opportunity to experience what it is truly like to be a nurse. They will learn how to interact with patients and apply their classroom learning in a real hospital setting, preparing them for their future careers.
The ceremony began with the entrance of all 162 nursing students into the Regina A. Quick Center auditorium, where students and their families were welcomed by Dean Patricia Simono Boyce, followed by President Mark Nemec and Dr. Ena Williams. Dr. Williams serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Yale New Haven Health, where some nursing students will complete their upcoming clinical training.
She offered some words of advice and encouragement, remarking, “The most important part of becoming a nurse, or rather, I say, nursing, is the incredible ability to touch lives. Change lives. Advocate for patients, for their families, for the community. To change policy, or create new policies. And lift the quality of care that is delivered to those who depend on us.”
The nursing students were then called to the stage one by one for the presentation of their Egan Clinical Timepieces, the watches they will use throughout their clinical rotations. Beyond helping them track schedules and patient checks, the watches symbolize the time and dedication they have and will put into their work.
The ceremony wrapped up with the recitation of the nurse’s oath and some closing remarks from senior Ella Tanis, President of the Student Nurses Association. She advised students, “Trust the process and trust yourself, and know that you’re far more capable than you all think.”
The ceremony took place on parents’ weekend, giving families and friends the opportunity to visit and celebrate their Stags in person. Due to the number of guests and the limited space in the auditorium, each student was given just three tickets to share amongst their families. Nevertheless, the room was packed, and the nurses received a standing ovation upon the close of the ceremony.
Tessa Smith, a sophomore nursing student, expressed her excitement for her upcoming clinical rotations, saying that she was most looking forward to “patient interaction, and applying our classroom teachings into an actual clinical experience.”
Rebecca Pfeffer, also a sophomore, echoed, “I’m very excited to have some new experiences and meet all the patients and make connections…and take all the things that I’ve learned at school and really put that into my practice.” She also noted the importance of her family, commenting, “They are very supportive, always.”
The Quick Center was full of beaming parents. “I’m constantly proud of my Stag, but today especially,” said Jill Smith, mother of Tessa Smith. “This is a serious endeavor, and I couldn’t be more proud. There are challenging things ahead and I think she’s going to do great.”
Another Stag parent, Natalia Marciano’s father, commented, “I’m proud of the woman she has become and what she’s going to be.”
As these emerging nurses begin to tackle their clinical rotations, they will be well prepared thanks to the support of their families, friends and faculty to take on whatever may come next in their studies.Egan Class of 2028 Celebrates Clinical Initiation Ceremony