THUNDER BAY - After her grandfather became ill, Vanessa Jones dedicated her time to providing him care and in doing so she developed a passion for caring for others. It was that passion that helped carry her through a stressful two years, all the way to an important ceremony where she officially dedicated her life to caring for others.
“My grandfather was diagnosed with brain cancer and I fell in love taking care of him so I went into nursing because of him,” she said. “It was very stressful. There were a lot of emotions we went through and definitely today is a nice finalization on a happy note.”
Jones was one of 47 graduates from the practical nursing program at Confederation College participating in a pinning ceremony on Sunday, which included taking the Nursing Nightingale Pledge.
Pinning ceremonies have been taking place in the nursing profession since the First World War and the ceremony has been held in Thunder Bay for the last 15 years.
“It was a significant moment that showed you were entering into the profession,” said Samara Savoie, a graduating registered practical nurse and the class valedictorian. “It’s continued on and we’ve done it for a number of years here in Thunder Bay as well.”
Savoie said it has been a particularly challenging year for nursing students at Confederation College because of the faculty strike last October that shut down the college campus for a month.
The program began with 75 first year students and many did not finish this year because of the work stoppage. According to Savoie, it made an already stressful program even more challenging.
“We do more than 850 hours of clinical time,” she said. “On top of that, you feel like you’re falling so far behind with the strike. So it’s really very validating to come to the end of the year and put it all behind you and enter the profession and look back at your hard work and be proud of yourself.”
And the graduates have a lot to be proud of because the stress and the workload that is part of the program is only for the most dedicated individuals who want to devote their lives to helping others.
“It‘s a tough profession and if you can take it and you can hack it, I think it’s a great profession to go into,” Savoie said. “It’s very needed, it’s very rewarding as well as challenging. I think more people are starting to see that and we are seeing more people show interest in it.”
And that is the message Savoie wants to leave with her fellow classmates – to continue to work hard with the same dedication and determination that carried them through the last two years.
“I am really honoured to speak for this group because I have never met such a wonderful group of compassionate individuals,” she said.
