In this pledge, students make a commitment to the highest professional and academic standards of the nursing profession. They pledge dedication to a profession responsible for the lives of others. They recognize their accountability to the public for their actions. They pledge to safeguard the health and welfare of clients. They commit to work with and be supportive of their peers as they all pursue excellence in nursing education. They vow to behave ethically, honestly, professionally, and with integrity in all learning endeavors. They pledge to seek to promote ethical behavior and report unethical behavior. They pledge to treat fellow students, faculty, staff, clients, and community partners with dignity and respect while embracing diversity in values and beliefs. They pledge to advocate for clients in need, to embrace the complex role of the professional nurse. They seek to be a living role model for others, and recognize that responsibility for acquiring new knowledge does not end with graduation, but will be a lifelong endeavor.

Natalie Birdsley, current senior and president of the Student Nurses Association, welcomed the new junior students into nursing. She shared an experience at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center OR, when a nurse asked her if she wanted to go see a heart. “…Be sure to add ‘yes’ to your vocabulary at clinicals and use it excessively!” Natalie witnessed an open-heart Atrial Valve Repair and said staff was excellent educating her through the process. The surgeons—who were very kind and had a passion for teaching-- invited her to stand where she could closely observe. She was told the patient was a 57-year-old healthy male, and instantly the procedure became “a lot more personal.” Natalie’s dad had the same procedure. She remembered what her whole family went through. The patient on the table quickly became someone’s dad, brother, son, loved one. She remembered how scared her family was waiting to hear how his procedure went; she remembered seeing her dad hooked up to a ventilator in the ICU… but she felt like he was “so safe where he was because of the nurses that poured their hearts and souls into their jobs and made my family feel like theirs. It is easy to forget these things when a patient is open on the table with their faces draped and covered, or when they are 1 of 25 patients on your floor, or when they are your 10th case of abdominal pain in the ER that day. They are so much more than just another body that is taking up space on your unit... Give the care that you would want given to your own family. But you cannot take care of others if you do not take care of yourselves first! Find a hobby, a creative outlet, a support system; take time for your mental and physical health, and be ready to learn every single day.”

Student nominating Tara: Haley Crews. "Tara was recently nominated one of Wyoming's Nurses of the Year. After my semester with her, it is no surprise. I came to her a timid student with little self-confidence, full of doubt. She took my potential, built me up in ways I didn't know was possible. She imbedded in me a deep confidence and sense of hope; she went from holding my hand with each task to trusting me to take on multiple patients alone, while she worked in the background. I am unsure I can every properly thank her how she impacted me as person/student. I will be a great nurse because of her. I will never forget being with a patient when told he only had a couple weeks to live. He teared up; thanked us for caring for him. When we left the room we were both emotional. Tara said, ‘This happened to me when I was a student; my preceptor told me to get it together and suck it up.’ But Tara said, ‘Never be ashamed of your compassion and empathy. The day you stop having empathy for patients is the day you should no longer be a nurse.’ I will never forget that moment with Tara. I feel beyond fortunate to have learned from her!”

Faculty member Christina Warren, MS, RN, led the students in reciting the Nightingale Pledge, while fellow faculty member Ashley Lair, MS, RN, called students forward individually to sign the large display that will hang in the halls of the school during the students' tenure. Following signing, Warren and Dean Sherrill Smith "elbow bumped" each student--what's become the standard COVID hug/handshake, as they handed out gifts and congratulations.