The College of Nursing held its largest-ever pinning ceremony on Feb. 5, welcoming 146 new nurses to the profession.
The graduands included students who chose to accelerate their completion of the program and those who started in summer 2023, the extra intake that was added annually to address the provincial nursing shortage.
The new graduands received their nursing pin and recited the UM Bachelor of Nursing Pledge, which was inspired by the 1893 Florence Nightingale Pledge and has been adapted by the university. The graduands will receive their degrees at the next UM convocation in June.
"The pinning ceremony is not only a time-honoured tradition, but a rite of passage that has been cherished in the nursing community for over a century. It symbolizes not only your academic success, but your commitment to the values, responsibilities and code of ethics of the nursing profession," said Dr. Netha Dyck, former dean of the College of Nursing and host for the event.
Among the new nurses were 14 Indigenous students - the most ever in a single cohort - who were all supported through Mahkwa omushki kiim: Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE), which provides academic, personal and cultural support to Indigenous nursing students.
"PINE embraced me in culture and lifted me up to show me my value as a human being," said Angela Soulsby, an Anishinaabe and Métis woman who has experienced health discrepancies first-hand. Her goal is to work in a northern First Nation community.
"I got into nursing to help be part of the solution for Indigenous people," she said.
Katherine Kwartel, originally Opaskwayak Cree Nation, said she would also like to work in the north, but plans to stay in Winnipeg for the next few years with her young children.
"I want to make a difference. I want to see someone who looks like me take care of people who look like me," said Kwartel, whose grandmother was also a nurse.
The pinning ceremony included greetings from Knowledge Keeper in Residence at the College of Nursing Brenda Longclaws, Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Dr. Peter Nickerson, and UM President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch.
Other speakers included Jacob Ahiaegbe, president-elect of the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, and Hon. Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training. Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care also spoke via video.
An honour song was performed by Dr. Lisa Monkman.
Instructor Alia Lagace was awarded the Nursing Students' Association's teaching excellence award, which is voted on by students. She was presented the award by co-valedictorians Sophie Harms and Tolulope Akinloye.
"She has made a profound impact on her students, who describe her as passionate, patient, compassionate and kind," Harms said.
Harms, from Winnipeg, did her senior practicum in public health and she said she looks forward to starting her career in that field.
Akinloye, originally from Nigeria, came to Manitoba four years ago to study at UM. He recently started a position at St. Boniface Hospital. In his address, he thanked the college, professors and preceptors, and praised his classmates.
"We learned many skills, such as perseverance, honesty, collaboration and commitment to patient-centred care," Akinloye said. "I can confidently say that we have all grown into exceptional nurses."
Watch a social media video of highlights from the ceremony.
