“You are at the beginning of your journey as a member of a proud and trusted profession,” Virginia Beach School of Practical Nursing (VBSPN) Director Rosa Abbott told graduates.
“People will seek your advice, if they haven’t already, refer to your knowledge for answers, look to your actions for guidance and most of all,” continued Abbott, “will trust your expertise with their very lives.”
Abbott joined colleagues, school division officials and family members in applauding the accomplishments of the 15 members of the VBSPN Class of 2016 at the school’s 52nd Commencement April 29.
The school division’s 18-month accredited program includes 1,494 hours of classroom studies, clinical hours and preceptorships to prepare graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Successful completion of the state board exam allows graduates to be licensed as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and to continue their nursing education to become registered nurses.
Moments before the ceremony began VBSPN Class of 2016 member Mourizio Zeland reflected on graduation day.
“It means a lot. It means the opportunity to do better and create a living for your family. You can also help people and save lives,” he said.
Commitment to the program and one’s studies is a must, according to Zeland.
“You have to be serious about what you’re doing. It’s not like a walk in the park,” he said. “They really force you to go beyond your limit and then some. You’ll be so stretched that you may feel overwhelmed completely but at the end of the process you realize that you can do more.”
Being serious about the program came easily to Lindsey Pitts, one of five VBSPN students who began the program as a high school senior. Pitts graduated from Kempsville High School in June 2015.
“I’ve gone back and forth between being a neurologist, a sports medic and nursing, and since this program was offered while I was in high school I decided to take it. I like bedside nursing because you get to know the patients and their families,” said Pitts.
“It’s a big accomplishment to be able to graduate from nursing school while most of my friends are still freshmen in college,” added Pitts. “I’ve already got my career started. I’ve had a job offer through CHKD in nursing and I currently work at Sentara as a nursing care partner.”
Christina Brown is equally proud of her graduation from the VBSPN, though she regrets not starting the program during her high school years like Pitts.
“When I graduated [from Landstown High School] back in 2010, I didn’t really know about this program. I probably would have taken the opportunity to do it then,” reflected Brown.
Always wanting to be a nurse, Brown pursued the program in 2014, after personal health issues altered her college plans.
“This is the stepping stone to becoming an RN. It’s really about helping people and teaching them about their disease processes and what it is that’s going on in their body,” explained Brown. “It’s a lot of teaching and us learning from them also, because everyone’s symptoms and everyone is different. We’re problem-solving every day.”
And when the problem-solving and studying got to be too tough, class president Janessa Hernandez knew that she could count on her fellow VBSPN graduates.
“I can confidently say these people are more than just my classmates; they are my family,” she said in her commencement speech. “And, as a family, when times got rough, when someone was anxious about a final, when someone hit their limit and questioned whether nursing was for them, there was always someone there to help. Because as nurses, we have to stick together.”
“Nursing is more than just a job title or duty,” declared Hernandez, “it’s who we are.”
To view more photos from the VBSPN 52nd Commencement, visit the VBSchools Facebook page. Information about the VBSPN requirements, application and studies is available on Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center website.