22 students graduate from SSHS nursing aid program

  The two-year nursing assistantship program at Saipan Southern High School graduated 22 nursing aids this school year.

SSHS principal Jesse Tudela said this is the school’s third batch of nursing aids that completed the training.

In a pinning and path of light ceremony held recently at Pacific Islands Club, program officials bestowed the highest recognition on Chelsea Borja, who emerged as the batch’s most outstanding graduate. The second honor award went to Hannah Shai.

Four other graduates received special awards: Welington David for excellence in holistic care; Lallane Guiao for excellence in professionalism; Ashley Alejo for excellence in communication; and Rose Ann McVicar for excellence in caring.

Tudela hopes that these new nursing aids will continue working toward their ultimate goal of becoming professional nurses.

“I hope they will continue to persevere and pursue their education of one day becoming a registered nurse, then one day come back to the CNMI to help [the Commonwealth Health Center]. Their success is the CNMI’s success… We need to continue to invest in our youth and future generation. I am very proud of them for choosing nursing because they are needed very much. I wish them all the luck and to come back soon,” he said.

The new nursing assistants include Sarah Aldan, Ashley Alejo, Ma. Louise Atrero, Chelsea Borja, Shelane Borja, Zyerlishida Camacho, Nikissa Castro, Desiree Cepeda, Teri-sue Corpuz, Welington David, Bless Ducusin, Laura Gilnifrad, Lallane Guiao, John Lamberto, Allison Madamba, Rose McVicar, Loveme Phillip, Jenny Sanchez, Hannah Shai, Michelle Takai, Dominique Villagomez, and Willie Wagan.

The pinning ceremony was keynoted by Northern Marianas College Nursing Club president Hilma Castro and was also addressed by program instructor Douglas Miller, a registered nurse.

SSHS started the program in 2009 in collaboration with the then Department of Public Health. For a student to complete the whole process, they have to complete the required clinical and lecture hours in their 11th grade. Each day, students take almost two hours of class instruction and over two hours of clinical sessions at the hospital. The nursing assistantship program is offered as a fifth period at the school.