More than 200 ABSN students were celebrated during the 16th ABSN Commitment to Excellence Ceremony, held virtually on March 1.

The ceremony serves to support the students who are beginning their clinical rotations, reminding them of the community and guidance the program offers these students. In attendance were not only friends and family of the Spring 2021 cohort but also fourth-semester ABSN students, faculty and affiliates of the program.

Vicky Orto, chief nursing and patient care services officer with Duke Regional Hospital and DNP alumna, was the event's guest speaker. She was followed by the event's student speaker Kaeli Hancock, a fourth-semester ABSN student. Excerpts from their speeches can be found below.

Once Hancock concluded her remarks, she invited all the students being honored to turn on their mics to recite the public oath that acknowledges their primary roles as caregivers. The students then tacked on their pins.

Hancock, who started with DUSON when the pandemic first hit last spring, received a medallion for being the student speaker, an event tradition.

Recordings of the Nightingales performing "We Shall Be Known" by Mamuse and "Dear Old Duke" were played to help close the event.

Michelle Hartman, assistant dean, ABSN Program, and assistant professor, opened and closed the ceremony and introduced the speakers. As people were logging off, expressions of excitement and congratulations chimed in and out to wish the students well.

A full recording of the event is now available online.

Speech excerpts

Vicky Orto:

"I don't believe that there has ever been a time in my career when this commitment has been more important. In fact, it has been the toughest and most rewarding act that nurses have accomplished over the past year of this pandemic.

Today, I want to recognize and celebrate all of our students that are committing to excellence in nursing practice. It will reward you in endless ways over your entire career.

The nurses on your clinical units are very excited to support you on your journey. I tell all of the nurses on my team that students make us better. You remind us that the future of nursing is bright, and there is nothing more essential than preparing new nurses to join our profession.

Let your patients inspire. You have the opportunity to observe the human condition in a unique and very special way. Every person you care for will deepen your commitment to excellence.

You will all have challenges, and the nurses and staff and the areas you are assigned to are looking forward to helping you with these challenges. We are all pleased and very proud to be a part of the beginning of your careers in nursing.

You will find the privilege of providing nursing care is more than a career. It is a lifelong passion. I wish you all the best."

Kaeli Hancock:

"It is truly an honor and privilege to be speaking today as a fourth-semester student. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate every single one of the first-semester students. You have truly made it into an excellent program.

Although the last year has been difficult, in hindsight, it was a veiled blessing to have been enrolled in nursing school at DUSON. I am infinitely grateful for the encouragement and compassion from my peers in my cohort and from each of my professors, clinical instructors and the overall DUSON community. I genuinely look forward to Zoom and (feel) the undeniable passion, kindness and support of my professors through my desktop. (When I started) as isolated and sadden I felt at times by what was going on in the world, I felt safe and secure to be a part of a DUSON strong team and community amid an insecure virus-laden world.

DUSON has taught me so much about nursing and simultaneously taught me so much about myself, my emotions, my responses and reactions. I now understand that a commitment to excellence in nursing is not simply committing to being the best nurse in the hospital. It is doing your best intentionally, finding ways to keep small but consistent progress, striving to be the best version of yourself every single day to embrace your journey, seek progress, practice gratitude, process and learn from your mistakes, practice discipline and to always hold yourself accountable.

If I could offer any advice, it would be to take one day at a time. Find ways to keep small but consistent progress, strives to be your best self. Trust your body and mind when it needs a break. Give yourself grace and forgiveness, and consistently keep persevering on your journey to excellence. Pace yourself throughout the program and reach out to your teammates when you need support because this is truly a DUSON strong team. Expect that you will face hurdles that may feel like mountains, at times, but remember that, even though you cannot control what hurdles or mountains may come your way, you can control your reaction to them. Remember that change is the only constant in life and that everything is temporary. You will succeed if you believe in yourself and trust this program. You will become a new excellent version of yourself through this program and beyond. Remember to not lose sight of yourself and your life or nursing. If you give your absolute best every single day and aspire to be the best possible version of you, I have all the faith you will excel.

A commitment to excellence and nursing is a continuous evolving journey, rather than a destination."