Lamp procession celebrates student nurses

More than 100 student nurses celebrated the end of their studies at the University of Wolverhampton with a special lantern procession.

Symbolic Florence Nightingale-style lamps were carried by student nurses in a procession from the University to St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton city centre.

Adult nursing and mental health nursing students took part in the event on Thursday, 31 August 2017 which was an opportunity for celebration ahead of the student nurses’ graduation ceremonies in September.

The ceremony was personalised with experiences and stories from some of the students and Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing staff. The Living Water Church Choir opened and closed the ceremony and Cristie’s Academy of Dance members also performed to celebrate the achievements of Cohort 214. 

Family and friends also attended the celebration, which was organised by the cohort’s student committee, and an enamel University badge was presented to all students.

Student Nurses, Joshua Williams and Emily Wates, were involved in organising the event. They said: “Adult and Mental Health field nursing graduates who began their training in September 2014 were invited to attend this celebratory event to acknowledge their personal and professional achievements throughout their nurse education and follow tradition in awarding commemorative enamel nursing badges.

“The education and knowledge passed on throughout this programme of study has been fundamental to our learning. No matter where you work or what type of nursing work you do, it all contributes to make a difference.”

Juliet Drummond, Group Tutor, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Award Lead, said: “Our student nurses have worked hard in achieving an academic and professional qualification and will now enjoy the fruits of their labour. We are very proud of their achievements and wish them the very best in their future ventures. They have learned and demonstrated how to care for someone compassionately, competently, and safely. They will be caring for very vulnerable people who will be looking to them to make a difference. Nursing is more than just a science but also an art. Going forward they will continue to carefully craft how to care respectfully and compassionately for those in need.”

This was the fifth time the event has been held by the University.

Further information

Photo credit: Stuart Guy.

More images from the ceremony are available on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sguyster62/albums/72157684742729602/with/36815669541/

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: Friday, 01 September 2017