Excitement was in the air on September 19th as close to 400 students and faculty came together at Ď㽶ĘÓƵ’s New Residence Hall for the 10th Anniversary Nursing Professionalism Ceremony.
A rite of passage for students at McGill's Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN), this year’s milestone event included students at the beginning of their nursing journeys as well as more experienced nurses who have chosen to deepen their knowledge and enhance their skills. The proceedings were expertly emceed by Associate Director – Education Josée Bonneau, who welcomed the students and assured them that faculty and staff are committed to their success.
As noted by Associate Dean and Director Anita Gagnon, “Our job here at the Ingram School of Nursing is twofold: to prepare you to take on the responsibilities and uphold the ethics of the nursing profession, AND to help build the confidence that will allow you to think, feel and act like a nurse.” Prof. Gagnon also gratefully acknowledged the presence of Richard Ingram and his wife, Satoko Shibata, whose unparalleled generosity has helped keep the School at the forefront of innovation in nursing education.
Beginning with a few words in Michif, the language of the Red River Métis, Josée Lavallée provided an inspiring Indigenous opening to the ceremony. As a Red River Métis from Territory One, faculty lecturer and Director of the School’s Office for Social Accountability in Nursing, Lavallée emphasized the importance of the core Indigenous value of relationality. She advised students to “Take care of your relationships with yourself, with your peers, with the land. Nurturing your relationships will carry you through and help sustain you as you embark upon and continue in the nursing profession.”
Bringing greetings from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dean Lesley Fellows noted that during her training as a medical student and resident, she worked with many outstanding, experienced nurses who taught her the importance of teamwork, humility and listening to the patient. “I can tell you many stories of nurses who taught me technical skills and the art of clinical care, inspired me, and saved me from making mistakes because they cared about the patient that we were looking after together,” she said.
In a pre-recorded address, keynote speaker Leigh Chapman spoke about her role as Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), an appointed position within the policy branch of Health Canada with a mandate to ensure equitable access to quality care throughout the country. In her meetings with nurses, nursing administrators, educators and students in every province and territory, it became apparent that while efforts were being made to recruit nurses, one of the biggest challenges is nursing retention. Released by the CNO office in March 2024, the Nursing Retention Toolkit offers practical strategies for nursing autonomy and retention. She congratulated ISoN students for choosing what she termed legacy work. “Know that you have joined a vast and wonderful profession with ample opportunities to reach people in their most vulnerable moments, their most joyful ones and everything in between.”
Students were called to the stage in groups of four to pose for photos with their respective program directors as they proudly wore their McGill Nursing ID badges for the first time. The ceremony concluded with students and faculty reciting the Nursing Professionalism Oath, created by and for McGill nursing students.
Photo credit: Owen Egan and Joni Dufour
Nursing Professionalism Ceremony recording:
Nursing Professionalism Oath
As I begin my journey as a student at the Ingram School of Nursing, I solemnly pledge myself to the service of humanity;
I will endeavor to practice my profession with conscience, dignity and respect for all individuals;
I will promote health for all through the holistic care of individuals, families and communities, upholding the highest standards of evidence-informed practice;
I will strive to embody the art of nursing by recognizing strengths, acting with compassion, wisdom, openness and presence;
I will commit to interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning, building on my foundation of science and taking a leadership role to advance the development of my noble profession;
I make these promises freely and upon my honour, as I embark on my profession with enthusiasm and pride, committed to providing equitable care.
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