Chaminade University of Honolulu

Nursing

Nursing Students Honored With Pinning Ceremony

Silversword nursing students recently gathered for the time-honored Pinning Ceremony.

The event marks the completion of their undergraduate studies and the beginning of their careers in healthcare.

Some 19 students were honored at the ceremony August 19, receiving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) stoles and pins, and reciting the International Pledge for Nurses.

Lorin Ramocki, DNP, RN, dean of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions, congratulated the graduating nursing students.

“This tradition dates back to Florence Nightingale, with the pin representing the transition from student to professional nurse and the pledge to uphold the highest standards of care as they serve the community,” Ramocki explained.

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She added that the celebration “recognizes our graduates’ hard work and dedication, while affirming their readiness to serve with compassion, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to the values of service, justice, and peace that define our Marianist mission.”

Among the students honored was Janine Manuel ’25.

“It’s been a long journey and, right now, it doesn’t feel real,” Manuel said, after the ceremony.

She added that while her nursing studies were difficult, and she thought of quitting on several occasions, she decided to stick with it because of the encouragement she received from her professors, family and friends.

“With that, I just felt like I could thrive as an RN,” she said.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, click here.

Nursing Professor Receives Prestigious Honor

Chaminade Associate Professor Marife Aczon-Armstrong, MSCP ’03, Ph.D. has been selected for induction into the American Academy of Nursing’s 2025 Class of Fellows, a prestigious honor reserved for leaders in the field who have made substantial contributions to health care.

This year’s fellows hail from 42 states and 12 countries. They will join 3,200 active Academy Fellows who “together advance the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.”

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Aczon-Armstrong has been a nationally board certified nurse case manager for 25 years, and a Fulbright Senior Specialist for more than a decade. In addition to a doctoral degree in nursing, she holds master’s degrees in nursing and counseling psychology along with multiple certifications.

Marife Aczon-Armstrong

Lorin Ramocki, DNP, interim dean of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions, congratulated Aczon-Armstrong on receiving “one of the highest honors in our profession” with her induction as a 2025 fellow.

“This recognition reflects not only her extraordinary contributions to leadership and nursing education, but also elevates the national profile of our School and its commitment to advancing health equity and innovation,” Ramocki said.

The academy said the 2025 Class of Fellows was selected from a historically high number of applicants.

The fellows will be formally recognized at a conference in October in Washington, D.C.

“I cannot emphasize enough at this pivotal time in history the vital importance of recognizing this extraordinary and sizeable group of nurse leaders. With rich and varied backgrounds from practice, policy, research, entrepreneurship, and academia, they have been instrumental in using nursing’s holistic approach to improve the health of patients and communities throughout the world,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, Ph.D.

Also among the 2025 Class of Fellows: Sondra Leiggi Brandon, a member of the University’s Board of Governors. Brandon is vice president of Patient Care, Behavioral Health at the Queen’s Health Systems.

Nursing Students Honored in Pinning Ceremony

In a “heartfelt tradition,” 21 Nursing students at Chaminade gathered with loved ones Dec. 7 for a Pinning Ceremony, which marks the ceremonial completion of their bachelor’s degree journeys and the start of their professional careers.

During the gathering, students received their nursing stoles and pins.

They also recited the International Council for Nurses Pledge, promising to:

“Care for the sick with all the skills and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics or social status, sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate suffering, and to promote health.”

Hermaine Beltran ’24 was among the students honored.

“I’m feeling very happy, very exhilarated, very grateful for this moment,” said Beltran, who will be a nurse in the mother-baby unit at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. “We worked very hard to be here.”

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., a nurse herself, said the students are launching their careers amid a significant need for nurses in Hawai’i and nationally.

“We are proud that our students are answering the call,” Babington said.

She added, “The pinning ceremony is a heartfelt tradition that symbolizes students’ hard work and dedication throughout their coursework and clinical training.”

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Chaminade School of Nursing and Health Professions Interim Dean Lorin Ramocki explained that the roots of the Nursing Pinning Ceremony tradition date back to the 1860s when Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing, was awarded the Red Cross of St. George.

Pinning ceremonies grew to mark the start of a nurse’s career.

Tree Planting Honors School of Nursing

Kukui trees are traditionally a symbol of knowledge and enlightenment

There’s a new addition to the indigenous flora on Chaminade’s verdant campus.

In a special ceremony Nov. 22, University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. joined School of Nursing and Health Professions students, faculty and staff along with others across the University to plant a kukui tree and dedicate a special plaque.

The inscription on the plaque begins with a Hawaiian proverb: “Ka malu hālau loa o ke kukui.”

The saying, which means “the long shelter of the kukui tree,” refers to the way in which a healthy grove of kukui trees can provide adequate shelter—much like a house. Kukui or candlenut trees are also a traditional symbol of knowledge because the nuts were once used to burn for light.

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The plaque’s inscription continues: “This kukui tree is planted in dedication to the faculty, staff and students within the School of Nursing and Health Professions.”

Chaminade Provost Lance Askildson said in planting the kukui tree, “we are honoring the strong foundations of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions while recognizing our shared responsibility to ensure its continued success and growth in the years to come.”

“At Chaminade, we are incredibly proud to be preparing nursing and public health leaders who are inspired to serve their communities and help build a healthier Hawai’i.“

PHOTO GALLERY:

Blessing Hands That Heal

The annual ceremony is a reminder of the power of compassionate care

Students pursuing careers in nursing and other healthcare professions gathered October 18 for a beloved tradition at Chaminade: the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The observance honors those pursuing lives of service and serves as a poignant reminder of the power of compassionate care.

Rooted in the Christian tradition, the ceremony is observed every year on the Feast Day of St. Luke.

“Luke was an evangelist and a physician,” said Fr. Chris Wittmann, who presided over the blessing ceremony. “If you’re looking for God’s compassion, the Gospel of Luke is a good place to start.

He added, “So it is apt to celebrate this today.”

The blessing of the hands is a time-honored tradition that seeks to acknowledge the emotional and spiritual dimensions of patient care, and honor the commitment and resilience of healthcare workers.

  • St. Luke's Blessing_cn1_500x333
    Sr. Malia Wong, Fr. Chris Wittman and Br. Edward Brink anointed the hands of nursing students and other healthcare providers during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
    Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
  • Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 16.
    Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 16.

“Bless those who are involved with taking care of others,” said Bro. Edward Brink, vice president for Mission and Rector. He added that as Chaminade is the only Catholic university in the islands and serves the entire Pacific region, “it’s important that we continue this tradition.”

At its core, organizers said, the blessing of the hands ceremony serves as a reminder that the hands that administer care are not only instruments of healing but also vessels of compassion and empathy.

Nursing student Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25, a certified nurse’s aide, was among those who attended the ceremony. She said the gathering reminded her why she wants to pursue a career helping others.

Tabisola recounted the story of a difficult patient who she struggled to assist.

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After spending some time with him, he finally spoke and asked her if they could pray for him and his mom. They both ended up crying. “This is why I want to become a nurse,” Tabisola said. “I want to break down barriers and eliminate stigmas against the vulnerable.”

Isaiah Atalig ’25 is majoring in Forensic Sciences at Chaminade and aspires to be a doctor.

He said he takes the notion of healing to heart.

“Caring for people is my calling,” said Atalig, who is from Guam.

Atalig said in Chamorro culture, just like in healthcare professions, putting others ahead of yourself is paramount. “You care for neighbors, strangers, family, and the sick and vulnerable,” he said.

Nursing Students Offer Preventive Care

The Parish Health Program allows students to apply what they’ve learned

Every Sunday, a group of Chaminade nursing students gather at a Honolulu church to educate parishioners on the importance of health and nutrition. Established two years ago, the University’s Parish Health Program has provided access to healthcare screenings to thousands of churchgoers.

And earlier this month, the program expanded to a third parish: St. Anthony Kalihi.

At St. John the Baptist Church, which also participates in the program, Father Jaroslaw Z. Skrzypek said offering the one-on-one preventive health outreach has proven a support system to parishioners.

“It fosters a sense of community and shared values around health and well-being” said Skrzypek.

Likening the parish program outreach to clinical rotations—but at a church instead of a hospital—Associate Professor and Parish Health Coordinator Sandy Bourgette-Henry said students benefit from the real-world, hands-on experience and making connections with community members.

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“The best way to reach the community is to go where they gather,” Bourgette-Henry said.

“In this case, we go to the various parishes.”

Katrina “Nina” Jackson ’25 said giving her time, care and attention to parishioners has allowed her to sharpen her skills and also has proven personally rewarding. “This gives us an opportunity to get out into the community and see what residents’ needs are,” she said. “I think this program is important because it allows us to educate people about such health topics as nutrition, CPR and physical activity.”

A grant from the Marianist Sponsorship Ministries Foundation grant helped launch the innovative program in 2022, funding health promotional items like pedometers, blood pressure monitors, cuffs and gift cards for local farmers markets as incentives to maintain healthy habits.

Kaiser Permanente, through the Catholic Care Coalition, has also contributed to the program’s success.

Students enrolled in NUR 401 are charged with offering services through the Parish Health Program. Along the way, they also learn about public health theory, health promotion, and relationship-building.

In addition to aligning with Chaminade’s service-focused mission, the program also supports the University’s efforts to promote UN Sustainable Development Goals, including a focus on wellbeing.

When the Parish Health Program is at St. John the Baptist Church on Sundays, students screen about 600 parishioners across three Masses.

NUR 401 Public Health students visit St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi as part of Chaminade's Parish Health Program. Pictured are, from left, standing, Victoria Ayala, Nina Jackson, James Kightlinger, Kaulana Navares and Jasmin Clayton.
NUR 401 Public Health students visit St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi as part of Chaminade’s Parish Health Program. Pictured are, from left, standing, Victoria Ayala, Nina Jackson, James Kightlinger, Kaulana Navares and Jasmin Clayton.

They take blood pressure readings, offer nutritional recommendations, and discuss diabetes management and cardiac care.

Last semester, they even screened for food insecurity among parishioners at Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Kalihi. Bourgette-Henry said students distributed 150 food vouchers on one particular Sunday.

“We were trying to determine if food insecurity is correlated with high blood pressure,” Bourgette-Henry said. “I know that the American Heart Association wants to do this again in the future, and so do we.”

A former cardiac nurse with 30 years of experience, Bourgette-Henry noted that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Hawaii. She said the old model of healthcare waits for patients to present with symptoms. The new one, aligned with the Parish Health Program, “focuses on prevention.”

“The students are really eager to teach parishioners how to take care of themselves,” Bourgette-Henry added. “All participating students find this program fulfilling and beneficial to their future as nurses.”