The School of Nursing the graduation of its 14th class under the theme of "humanized care"

In a workshop by enthusiasm and a sense of vocation, the School of Nursing at the University of Navarra held the graduation ceremony on May 16 graduation ceremony the 14th class of Degree Nursing program and the 69th graduating class of the School (2022–2026). The event, which brought together academic officials, faculty, families, and friends, served to reaffirm the identity of the new graduates as “artists of care” in a complex healthcare environment.

The ceremony began with the traditional procession of students, faculty, and the presiding officials, accompanied by solemn music. Following the official opening remarks by the dean, Ana Choperena, the class patron, Professor José Ignacio Monreal, took the floor and delivered a final lecture titled“The Metabolism of Hope.”

Hope as the Driving Force of Care
Drawing on her experience in the Biochemistry laboratory Biochemistry Monreal offered a reflection that linked science with the virtue of nursing. She defined hope not as a vague concept, but as a "constitutive virtue of the nursing character" and a driving force for commitment. In an original biochemical analogy, she compared nurses to “vitamin people” who act like enzymes, amplifying the effectiveness of care and helping patients face vulnerability with optimism. She also emphasized the importance of humility and the spiritual dimension in end-of-life care.

Humanizing Science: The Message from the Student Representatives
Speaking on behalf of the students, representatives Naroa Asian and Maxine Espino emphasized that graduation is not an endpoint, but rather the beginning of the responsibility to care. In a speech on the human dimension, they reminded the audience that “to care is to be” and that love is the indispensable foundation of the profession. Quoting theorist Madeleine Leininger, they affirmed that care is the “heart of all health services.” The student representatives emphasized that their mission statement “humanize science,” combining technical rigor with compassion and respect for the patient’s dignity. They also expressed deep gratitude to their families for teaching them to care long before they entered college.

A Solemn Pledge
One of the most significant moments of the ceremony was the recitation of the Nurse’s Oath. With everyone in attendance standing, the graduates publicly pledged to uphold the ethical principles that will guide their professional lives—a commitment that symbolizes their entrance into the healthcare community.

To close the ceremony, Dean Ana Choperena congratulated the new "colleagues" and urged them to chart their own "path of service" in a world full of uncertainties. Choperena championed the "ethics of Good" as a proposal to cynicism, reminding the audience that a nurse’s clinical judgment has the power to transform lives. Finally, she encouraged the graduates to be “big-hearted” and to remember that the University of Navarra will always be their intellectual home.

The ceremony concluded with a performance of "Gaudeamus Igitur," followed by the procession of the new nurses, who were greeted with applause by their families for the traditional group photo.