During Wednesday’s (January 4) ceremony in Havens Auditorium, 48 students received certificates commemorating their achievement and recited the Nightingale Pledge, a statement of the ethics and principles of the nursing profession. The pledge is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
“Induction symbolizes moving forward toward a worthy goal,” said Dean Linda Wallace. “The induction is often a long-awaited step to becoming a nurse. Nursing continues to be the most trusted of all professions. Our newest inductees will join other nurses in assuring that nursing is always the most trusted profession, and honor, and a responsibility we earn or lose with every interaction.”
The new nursing students will participate in community health fairs and clinical experiences at local care facilities during their first year of the program. Their final two years include placements at hospitals, including Community Howard Regional Health, St. Vincent Kokomo, IU Health Tipton Hospital, Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Community North Hospital.
IU Kokomo graduated 152 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students and 14 Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) students in 2016. The newly inducted future nurses anticipate graduating in December 2019.
In addition to the 48 beginning the B.S.N. program, 35 nurses start the M.S.N. program in January, with 14 in the inaugural Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Students inducted are listed by hometown.
Carmel: Kelsi DeHaven, Anna Luna
Camden: Sadonna Dillon
Cicero: Michala Hirl
Converse: Seairra Johnston
Frankfort: Jessica Alanis
Greentown: Sheila Woods
Indianapolis: Samson Bosede
Kokomo: Anu Arogundade, Taylor Cole, Kylee Cox, Callie Creason, Elizabeth Dada, Lynne Dang, Kristin Gingerich, Hannah Harrison, Emily Jarvis, Mikayla Mason, Khoi Nguyen, Owen Ohman, Stephanie Paul, Janelle Raulerson, Jessica Schultz, Demi Shafer, Victoria Strong, Meliah Wray
Lafayette: Emily Payton, Tia Tate
Logansport: Brooke Bundy, Kaitlyn Cover
Marion: Heather Petro, Ryan Wells
Monticello: Heather Downey, Hagen Jacobs
Royal Center: Lauren Bechara, Ashlee Eberhardt, Madison VonTobel,
Russiaville: Abbagail Burns, Janelle Peterson
Sweetser: Olivia Younce
Tipton: Kayla Harris, Bailee Holler, Kelsey Payne, Whitney Revolt
Wabash: Allison Smith
Westfield: Jennifer Bol
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana