112 Nursing Students Blessed Before First Clinical

On Friday, January 31, 112 nursing students in the class of 2027 gathered in the Abbey Church for a special blessing of the hands ceremony in preparation for their first clinical experiences. The ceremony is a beloved tradition for the college’s future nurses, connecting the Benedictine values at the center of their college experience to their future profession. 

Father Francis McCarty, O.S.B., presided over the blessing, presenting to each student the medal of St. Raphael, patron saint of nurses. The students proudly wore their navy-blue scrubs for the first time, ready to begin their rotations. Student Nurses Association president Maria Dagher gave a reflection during the event, saying “Always remember, you are part of a team and your success is built upon supporting and uplifting one another. No one becomes a nurse alone, and it’s the strength of the community that helps us grow.”

One by one the sophomore nursing students were called to the altar by Professor Anne Knight to have hands blessed by Nursing professors Courtney Jentzen, Michele Moreau, Necole Gabris, and Toni Nelson. Lastly, community members who are healthcare professionals also had the opportunity to have their hands blessed.

The students will now enter a new chapter in their nursing education taking their classroom, lab, and simulation learning to the clinical environment.

Related Links

• Jean School Launches Inaugural Graduate Program in Nursing Leadership and Innovation →
• Update on Grappone Hall, the New Home for the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences →