Such sentiments were celebrated in grand style earlier this month on Saturday, February 6, at the Chamberlain College of Nursing Graduation ceremony, at which my Mom ceremoniously marked receipt of her Master of Science degree in Nursing.
I was especially delighted to be present to celebrate this achievement of hers in the second degree she's received in recent years, having borne witness to the hard work she put in for it. (Indeed, someone at the start of the ceremony said it well, about how the graduates may have not fully realized what they had gotten themselves into at first.)
Unlike other graduation ceremonies at the college level, this one was solely focused on nursing degree graduates--and was held at a hotel in Rosemont, since much of the coursework is online. It was indeed an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the profound sense of care that is an integral part of the work nurses do. That was a major part of the address given by the keynote speakers, Bonnie and Mark Barnes, the co-founders of the Daisy Foundation. I had vaguely heard of this organization before, but this was the first time I was fully enlightened about it. And as I discovered quickly, it was a big deal for them to come speak, because the foundation is one of the most prominent organizations in the nursing field.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes became fully aware of compassionate care nurses make part of their work when their son, in his 30s, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (or ITP), affecting his blood that led to his death a few weeks later. Their foundation now recognizes the extraordinary care nurses show in working with patients. While any nurse would claim it just part of a day's work, the patients, and even those suffering with them, are deeply impacted. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes shared the story of a highly-decorated soldier at Walter Reed hospital who declared his nurse was his hero, to which she replied, "I'm just doing my job."
It is truly a gift that nurses have in the compassionate care they give. As my grandmother said it, not everyone feels moved with compassion when encountering someone in pain. So it was definitely a celebration this day for the vocation these graduates embraced, even the one person who obtained her Bachelor's degree in Nursing, in her 70s.
Quite often, Mom comes home from work with stories of hectic happenings. A few years ago, I finally just had to ask Mom why she went into a career that proves so trying. She replied that nursing gives her an opportunity to make a difference. I'm proud to say that Mom incorporates that spirit into her work, and into what she does outside of work, even for me.
Indeed, her walking across the stage that day made a difference in my life. She was there celebrating her achievement, and it gave me new perspective on the work I'm doing for my master's degree. I'm certainly facing my own set of challenges in my schoolwork. But to witness this celebratory moment was such an encouragement for me, giving me a glimpse of what's ahead for me, when my work is done, and I can celebrate the glory of achieving my master's degree.
Just last weekend was the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the Sunday every year whose Gospel reading is the story of the Transfiguration. It was a chance for the three Apostles, and us, to get a glimpse of the glory Christ would attain after His Death and Resurrection.
Indeed, this graduation ceremony was a wonderful celebration of the vocation of nursing, the compassionate care that is part of it, and a "Transfiguration" experience for me as I press onward in my work, embracing my vocation.
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| WAY TO GO, MOM! |
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