With 2021 graduation and Nursing Pinning Ceremonies taking place at various locations this year the Orange County Community College Nursing Pinning Ceremony for 59 graduates took place at the Warwick Drive-In Theater on May 17th.

Everyone sat in their vehicles and the video and voice was sent from the stage area to everyone’s cell phones and car radios.

The event was hosted by The SUNY Orange Nursing Club Class of 2021 and the graduating student nurses included six Sullivan County residents, Crystal Kinisky, Kimberly La Femina, Ally Mertens, Megan Gerow, Amy Senkiew and Elizabeth Koenig.

The Pinning Ceremony includes a very serious International Pledge for nurses which reads, “In full knowledge of the obligations I am taking, I promise to care for the sick, with all the skills and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics or social status. I will respect at all times, the dignity and religious beliefs of the patients under my care, holding in confidence all personal information entrusted to me, and refraining from any action that might endanger life or health. I will endeavor to keep my professional knowledge and skill at the highest level, and to give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health team. I will do my utmost to honor the international code of nursing ethics and to uphold the integrity of the professional NURSE.”

These nursing graduates went through some difficult and serious training this past year when the pandemic forced studying from the classroom not available and having to learn from internet home video classrooms. It took a lot of dedication to force yourself and commit to your studies over everything else going on in their home.

A big pat on the back with sincere congratulations goes out to our new nurses.