Nursing School graduates 58 new nurses and celebrates Nightingale's Oath

The School of Nursing (Lisbon), of the Institute of Health Sciences of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, held the Professional Commitment Ceremony - Nightingale's Oath, in the São Vicente de Fora Church, on 30 June, which took place during the Thanksgiving Eucharist, presided by Miguel Vasconcelos, Chaplain of Católica.

According to the speech given by Amélia Simões Figueiredo, Director of the Nursing School (Lisbon), the ceremony was divided into three distinct but complementary components: the bestowal of the Light, the Professional Commitment and the Blessing of the Hands.

The handing over of the Light, materialised by the lighting of a lamp, was a symbol of faith and, equally, a symbol of modern Nursing, inseparable from "Florence Nightingale" who, with her lamp, illuminated the sick. 

The Professional Commitment, adapted from Florence Nightingale's historical oath, is the moment when, publicly, all the finalists commit themselves (with one voice) to put the scientific knowledge they have acquired at the service of people, families and communities, with particular attention to the most vulnerable. 

Confirmed by the Chaplain of Católica, Miguel Vasconcelos, the Blessing of the Hands is the moment when the future nurses commit to put the scientific knowledge they have acquired at the service of people, families and communities.

Amélia Simões Figueiredo finished with the words of the Holy Father appealing to the finalists to "think clearly about what they feel and what they do", "feel what they think and what they do" and "effectively do what they think and feel"!