UHM Nursing Pledging Ceremony celebrates the BS Class of 2022

At the beginning of the fall 2019 semester, UH Manoa Nursing hosted the Pledging Ceremony for incoming BS students.

The keynote speaker was Karol Richardson, a Faculty Instructor with the School of Nursing who retired in 2019. New nursing students recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge led by Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) President Miki Matsuoka  – whereby students make a commitment to practice the profession of nursing with the highest ethical standards and to safeguard and promote health for the entire community. The students ended the evening ceremony with celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in their lives with family, friends, nursing faculty and staff.

The Student Nurses Association made a special lei presentation to Dean Mary G. Boland to thank her for her deep commitment to the school and students, in recognition of her upcoming retirement. Boland will be retiring in August 2020 after 15 years of service.

Prior to the Pledging Ceremony, students heard from a panel of local nursing leaders who shared their personal career experiences and discussed their passion for nursing. They spoke about why they chose a career in nursing, provided advice for new students, and shared stories about their patients. The panel discussion was followed by a lively Q&A where students asked questions about work-life balance, employment opportunities, and inquired about qualities leaders look for in new hires.

UH Manoa Nursing would like to thank our panelists: Scott Ninomoya, Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Coordinator at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children; Gloria Fernandez, Quality Assurance Coordinator with the Hawaii State Department of Health- Public Health Nursing Branch; Darlene Nakayama, Chief Executive Officer at Palolo Chinese Home; and Michael Morimoto, Director of Oncology at The Queen’s Medical Center.

For more information about the New Student Orientation and Pledging Ceremony, please contact the Office of Student Services at nursing@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-8939.