Nurse capping ceremony

Yesterday was the imposición de cofias, the capping ceremony, at the College. After a mass celebrated by our Director General Father Freddy, the fourth semester nursing students were given their caps, a recognition that they are ready for more responsibility in rural clinics and hospitals.


Photo: Second year students watch in anticipation for their turn next year.

The ceremony is touching: the student comes forth to kneel, and the professors, who accompany her in class and on prácticas, pin the cap to her head. She then stands to the applause of the entire department, the students and professors of all semesters.


Photo: Student Juana Villca gets her nursing cap.

Mid-October the students will all go to try out their new skills at different rural clinics and hospital in the provinces and in La Paz -- and learn from doing what they have been practicing in the classroom.


Photo: The fourth semester class with Director General Father Freddy del Villar.

We are so proud of these young women (and a sprinkling of young men) who dedicate themselves to learning to care for their own people -- and their families are proud, too. Many mothers, fathers and other family members came to see the students celebrate this step in the long process of becoming a full-fledged nurse -- a big accomplishment considering most of our students parents didn't finish high school.


Photo: Student Biquet Velásquez and her sister pose proudly after the ceremony.