Fourteen students in the ABSN Class of 2022 were pinned ahead of their commencement on Friday, Dec. 9 and 14 in the Class of 2023 received their white coats before their clinical practices during a joint ceremony in the McBride Gathering Space.
In a joint ceremony for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, the Class of 2023 received their white coats and the Class of 2022 had the white coats they received in February pinned on Friday, Dec. 2 in the Numen Lumen Pavilion.
The Class of 2022 will graduate during the School of Health Sciences graduate commencement on Friday, Dec. 9 after the 16-month program that includes more than 500 clinical hours and is designed for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in any field.
Tiffany Morris, inaugural chair of the Department of Nursing, said the theme of the joint ceremony was “reflection, remembrance and rest.” “Reflect on the fact that … you began a journey. Remember what it took to get here. Now rest while we sit in this sacred place refilling your heart and mind with the joy of fulfilling your life’s calling and purpose to become a nurse,” Morris said.
American Nurses Association President Ernest Grant welcomed Elon’s ABSN students into what he called “the greatest profession in the world.” Ranking as the most-trusted profession for the 20th consecutive year by Gallup, nursing has built an illustrious reputation on years of tireless and exceptional work.
It will take agency from each of the ABSN students to further solidify this prestige, Grant said, recommending that the students get involved with professional organizations and become more politically savvy to make a difference outside of the clinical environment.
Grant recognized how discouraging and exhausting it is to be a medical professional amid the tide of disinformation but urges the students to “confront this with grit.”
“Yes, the world is changing,” Grant said during his keynote address. “But you will find that what doesn’t change fundamentally is the value of the trust that you will establish with your patients, your family members and your communities. You can overcome the skeptics and the troublemakers because you are a nurse. People will look to you not only for care and compassion but for the unconscious truth.”
Genesis Dancer ’22 received the first Dean Neiduski Leadership Award, named for Wartburg College President Becky Neiduski, who served as dean of Elon’s School of Health Sciences from June 2017 to July 2022 and played an integral role in the establishment of the university’s nursing program.
The ABSN program is one of two in the Department of Nursing. The other is a traditional, four-year undergraduate program for high school students. The ABSN program prepares nurses who are committed to local and global health equity and demonstrate the ability to think broadly, critically and creatively to optimize client-centered care.
ABSN Class of 2023
- Hyland Alfonso
- Grace Auth
- Jasmine Brumsey
- Danielle Cantrell
- Michaela Fraini
- Ruth George
- Christian Lindsay
- Taylor Mellow
- Katelyn Perez
- Joely Summey
- Raven Turner
- Samantha Vaz
- Camille Weaver
- Kendall Webb
ABSN Class of 2022
- Alyssa Baskette-Stokes
- Carly Carbone
- Genisis Dancer
- Ashley Duggan
- Alivia Gilbert
- Amanda Lester
- Jessica Lloyd
- Lauren Myers
- Sabrina Palmieri
- Jessica Renaud
- Sarah Trexler
- Joe Tynan
- Debryah Washington
- Brian Williamson
