Graduate Entry Pathway Pinning Ceremony welcomes 25 new nurses into the profession

Twenty-five women and men took an oath to practice their profession of nursing faithfully and received pins symbolizing their entry into the profession at the Graduate School of Nursing’s annual Graduate Entry Pathway Pinning Ceremony. The celebration kicked off Convocation Week 2016 at UMass Medical School with a tradition that signifies the students’ readiness to become registered nurses as they continue their studies toward doctoral degrees.

Ranging in age from their 20s to 50s, and representing a range of educational and professional experiences, some in health care and others not, the GEP Class of 2019 is a diverse group of adult learners. Among them are restaurateur Matthew Falvey, who as an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner intends to accelerate health equity in a medically underserved community. Now a PhD student, former social studies teacher Rita Konadu Amoah will use her training in advanced practice nursing research and education to promote health literacy in her native Ghana. Most recently a tech inspector for NASCAR, family nurse practitioner student Max Pianka is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program graduate who aspires to practice within the U.S. Coast Guard. Natalie Fremont-Smith, also in the family nurse practitioner track and already engaged in health care as a clinical research coordinator, hopes to find her vocation in oncology and palliative care.

The GEP Class of 2017 is the first to entirely comprise Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD in Nursing candidates as the Graduate School of Nursing phases out its master’s-level nurse practitioner programs in keeping with the profession’s need for doctorally prepared advanced practitioners.

Since its inception 12 years ago, the Graduate Entry Pathway has been preparing individuals with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing to first become registered nurses, then advanced practice nurses. The pinning ceremony marks the milestone at which students become registered nurses after one year of accelerated coursework before continuing with graduate study that qualifies them to become nurse practitioners, executives, scientists and educators.

An emotional and meaningful event for all who participate in and observe it, the Pinning Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that is a rite of passage and a reminder of nurses’ promise to serve others. For GEP students in particular, it marks the completion of the program’s first year of intensely accelerated study and passage of the national exam that will license them as registered nurses.

The event honored outstanding class members. Natalie Smith and Amanda Griffin received Academic Excellence awards for maintaining the highest grade point averages. The Clinical Excellence Award likewise had two recipients, Jamie Kerr and Jacquelyn Walsh. Steven Purcell was recognized with the Community Engagement Award. Cecily Kulsick was named Spirit of Nursing Award winner.

Class members, family and friends of the first Graduate Entry Pathway to Doctor of Nursing Practice students to be pinned were congratulated by Graduate School of Nursing Dean Joan Vitello, PhD, and GEP Director Jesica Pagano-Therrien, PhD, along with Chancellor Michael F. Collins and UMMS provost and School of Medicine Dean Terence R. Flotte, MD.

“No matter your background, all of you share a commitment to help others,” said Dr. Pagano-Therrien. “Your patients will be lucky to have you as their nurses.”