Nurses complete BSN degrees, receive pins during ceremony

Heidelberg nursing students Brian Michener and Tyler Trapp celebrated the culmination of their RN-BSN journey with a traditional pinning ceremony on campus Monday afternoon. Kathleen Mertens also completed her degree but was unable to attend the pinning ceremony.

Both working nurses, Tyler and Bryan were joined by their families for the pinning ceremony, conducted by Dr. Karen Estridge, director of the Nursing Program at Heidelberg.

Following a welcome from Karen and the Convocation and Blessing of the Hands by ‘Berg Chaplain Paul Sittason Stark, Provost Bryan Smith – who hails from a family of nurses – offered congratulations to the two RN-BSN graduates.

“When you are driven by this calling and passion to share your skills to help other human beings, you are capable of remarkable things,” Bryan said.

The nursing pin is symbolic of service to others and is worn to identify the nursing school from which they graduated. During his benediction, Paul told the nurses and their families that nursing is “a holy profession where people are called as servants. You are the ones most connected to your patients, giving care that sustains, heals and brings people life,” he said.

Both Brian and Tyler said they enjoyed their nursing classes at Heidelberg very much. For Brian specifically, completing his BSN degree was a personal goal since he had been asked by his employer, Blanchard Valley Health System, to take a larger leadership role. Personally, though, it was a sign to his son “how important college is to better yourself.”

About Heidelberg’s RN-BSN pathway

Heidelberg’s RN-BSN Completion pathway provides the opportunity for licensed nurses to obtain a BSN in a friendly and flexible online environment. It is designed to meet the needs of adult students who have employment and/or family obligations. The program is project-based to encourage meaningful learning and immediate application of new knowledge and eliminate the busy work that may or may not contribute to learning. Students complete eight online baccalaureate-level nursing courses, two of which include a clinical component.

Heidelberg also offers a 1-2-1 Nursing pathway that leads to a bachelor’s degree in nursing.