98 NURSING INDUCTION a RESPONSIBILITY to CELEBRATE Regulations make for a unique induction into the nursing program. Each year, the Carr College of Nursing held an induction ceremony welcoming new nursing students into the program. In previous years, friends, family and faculty were invited to join the celebration. However, the 2020 induction ceremony looked different. Due to safety precautions, friends and family were prohibited from attending the ceremony. The students and faculty stayed six feet apart and wore masks. Although the ceremony proceeded differently, the 32 students were still able to walk across the stage Aug. 24, 2020, have their candle lit and receive recognition. “As a faculty, we feel a responsibility to keep our students safe,” dean and associate professor of nursing Susan Kehl said. The faculty knew students needed to be in hospitals to learn effectively and receive class credit, but they also needed to take responsibility in protecting those around them. “All of our nursing students are taking care of the vulnerable population, and we have to protect the patients that they care for from COVID,” Kehl said. “We want to finish the semester, and we don’t want them to slow down in their progression.” This event was a milestone for the students, so when they found out friends and family could not attend, many were disappointed. Junior Sydney King spoke about her feelings toward the situation. “We were told that we would have the ceremony in the summer, so I was excited for my family to be there,” King said. “It didn’t feel as big of a deal as it should have.” On the other hand, some students felt that the ceremony was still a success. “Obviously, wearing masks and staying six feet apart is not the ideal situation for any event,” junior Abigail Howard said. “But the nursing faculty has worked really hard to make this semester as normal as possible, including the induction ceremony.” Kehl and other professors prayed for 40 days for the safety and well-being of not only nursing students, but all students. “We kept a prayer Google document beseeching the Lord to give us wisdom and to protect the students and the faculty,” Kehl said. “I believe that he has answered our prayers. I believe he is always good, and he always answers them in his best way, but we continue to beseech him for protection.” story by Kaitlyn Fancois
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