Nursing Student Day Honors CCP Nursing Students for More Than 30 Years

As Community College of Philadelphia celebrates its 60th anniversary, the College’s Department of Nursing hosted a CCP staple that has honored Nursing students for more than half of the institution’s history. The Nursing Student Day, held every fall semester, dates back more than 30 years.

The celebration brings together all the College’s Nursing students, including first-year, second-year and post-baccalaureate students, for a day of professional development, connection and celebration. During last semester’s Nursing Student Day, attendees packed the Great Hall in the Winnet Student Life Building where they heard from professionals in the industry and a panel of Nursing graduates.

The keynote conversation was led by Dr. Laureen Tavolaro-Ryley, professor of Nursing and the Independence Foundation chair in Nursing at CCP, and featured Dr. Elaine Tagliareni and Rhonda Carter. Dr. Tagliareni is a former professor of Nursing at CCP, the College’s first Independence Foundation chair, and current professor emerita in the School of Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professionals. Rhonda Carter is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Philadelphia Health Management Corporation.

“It’s an important thing, the compassion and the realization that you are truly helping other people live their best life,” Rhonda said during the discussion. “I think that is the most amazing part of the job for me. Just being able to help people get to the next day.”

Dr. Tagliareni spoke about her time as an educator at CCP and the many possibilities an education in Nursing provides.

“When an opportunity comes your way, a lot of times grabbing onto it, even though you may not feel you are fully prepared, will take you in directions you can’t even imagine now,” she said. “No one starts out knowing where they’re going to end up, but I am grateful that I started here, which was really the development of me as a leader.”

“It’s wonderful as a nurse to go through life to know that you’re doing meaningful work,” Rhonda added. “And so many people don’t have that luxury.”

Attendees also heard from Wenonah M. Carney, financial literacy student success coach at CCP, about practical ideas for financial wellness and ways to cultivate an “abundance mindset” to help students support their growth as caregivers and the growth of their communities.

Nursing Student Day presentations concluded with a panel of former students who all graduated from CCP Nursing programs. Alumni panelists included Idris Caldwell, Ashley Castle-Smith, Shaun Collins, Zaphir Kennedy, Jehna Stainthorpe, and Rebecca Weinstein.