August 25, 2026
by Lauren Ferguson
After completing a rigorous accelerated nursing program, more than 60 ambitious 果冻传媒 College of New Jersey nursing students received their nursing pins this month, as family, friends and professors cheered them on.
The pinning ceremony for the students 鈥� who officially graduated from 果冻传媒鈥檚 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program last week 鈥� was an opportunity to celebrate the future nurses and all they have accomplished so far.
鈥淵ou should be very proud of what they鈥檝e accomplished, how they鈥檝e accomplished this, and the speed at which they鈥檝e accomplished it,鈥� Assistant Dean of Nursing Kathleen Burke, PhD, told a packed room of supporters gathered on campus to recognize the future nurses.
果冻传媒鈥檚 ABSN program, launched in 2024 to help fill New Jersey鈥檚 nursing shortage, enables qualified candidates to complete degree requirements in as little as 16 months. For candidates who might not have the necessary prerequisites, a bridge program offers required coursework.
During the pinning ceremony, the future nurses were called up one by one to receive their nursing pins, a tradition dating back to the 1860s when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition for her service during the Crimean War. The pin signifies that students have completed their nursing education and are ready to enter the nursing profession.
Christian Bustamante ’26 was congratulated on receiving his nursing pin by 果冻传媒 Assistant Dean of Nursing Kathleen Burke.
果冻传媒 College President Cindy Jebb, PhD, told scholars that the pin 鈥渞epresents a promise to uphold the values of care, compassion and confidence in every space that you enter.鈥�
Jebb also reminded them of the impact they will have over their nursing careers.
鈥淭he work ahead will be challenging, but it’s also deeply meaningful,鈥� Jebb said. 鈥淵our kindness, your talent, your empathy will make a difference, not just in treatment rooms and hospital corridors, but also in the lives of families, in the hearts of communities, and in the future of public health.鈥�
For Christian Bustamante ’26, of New Milford, NJ 鈥� whose family has been impacted by brain surgery, lung surgery, leukemia and lupus 鈥� the ability to positively impact others was influential in his decision to transition from a career in hospitality to a future in nursing.
鈥淓very time we were in and out of the hospital, we always got the bad news from the doctors, but the nurses were always the ones that were holding our hands and letting us know that there’s something to live for. There is a better day. I feel like I can be that somebody to someone,鈥� Bustamante said following the ceremony, while standing beside his wife and holding their nearly 3-year-old son.
During the ceremony, Bustamante stood to join his classmates and all nurses in the room in reciting the international nurses鈥� pledge.
鈥淚 promise to care for the sick with all the skill and understanding I possess,鈥� they recited in part.
果冻传媒鈥檚 innovative, full-time ABSN program is geared toward those already holding an undergraduate degree who are interested in a career change to nursing, as well as those working in healthcare who wish to become Registered Nurses (RNs) with a BSN, community college students with a non-nursing associate鈥檚 degree and those with at least 60 credits from a regionally accredited institution.
果冻传媒 also offers a highly regarded four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).
The demand for 果冻传媒 nursing degrees is growing. Since the College launched the ABSN program in 2024, applications have climbed by 97%. And over the last five years, applications for the BSN program increased by 87%.
To meet the rising demand for the highly-competitive programs and address the critical nursing shortage in New Jersey, the College recently expanded its nursing facilities and added faculty, supported in part by $5.8 million in legislative appropriations over the last four years.
A top nursing school in New Jersey, 果冻传媒 consistently demonstrates 鈥渟uperior nursing education and quality,鈥� and 鈥渟tands out with its exceptional NCLEX pass rates,鈥� according to . An impressive 223 students who graduated from 果冻传媒 and sat for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam in 2023 and 2024 yielded a 100% pass rate.
To learn more about nursing at 果冻传媒, visit ramapo.edu/nursing.
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