Nine ASCC Nursing Graduates Receive Caps and Pins

By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer

During an evening ceremony on Wednesday, December 15th at the Lee Auditorium, families, friends and well wishers joined the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Nursing staff, local health care professionals and government officials to celebrate nine students completing the Practical Nursing Program. Students Staniel Vincent Dimaya, Shamarte Qurina Evagelia, Ramona Niusulu, Sandy Nua-Ahoia, Faavae Betty Patane-Laititi, Czarina Marie Roque, Faletuese Tafiti, Ritchell Toribio, and Tiffany Germaine Taumua received their caps and pins to mark their successful completion of their studies. Of these nine students, more than half have already passed the national examination to gain certification as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), while the remainder will sit the exam in the near future.

Guest speakers at the recognition ceremony last night included Rev. Ioane Evagelia, Lt. Gov. Faoa Aitofele Sunia and ASCC Acting President Tapaau Dr. Daniel Aga, who congratulated the students for their achievements and their dedication to the nursing profession. Keynote speaker, veteran nurse Mrs. Pouiva Reid, explained that the tradition of local American Samoans being trained as nurses dates back to the era of the Naval administration, and reminisced on the hardships she and her classmates experienced while training as nurses prior to World War II.

“They expected us trainees to act as housekeepers, janitors and even gardeners,” recalled Reid, “and during our first year we had to clean the inside and outside of the hospital every morning. Some of my classmates couldn’t put up with this and quit the training.” Mrs. Reid stuck through the training largely through the inspiration of her housemother, who reminded the trainees that that they were in the nursing profession not to make money but to care for sick people. Her tenacity paid off by her third year, by which time she had risen to the pay scale of $3 a month. “Believe it or not, this was big money back then,” Reid told the astonished audience.

Following her training period under the Navy, Mrs. Reid moved away from American Samoa and worked at various hospitals on the mainland, returning home after retirement in the late ‘70s to work at LBJ, which by now paid its nurses $4,000 a year. Mrs. Reid retired again in 1992, but before long she was called back to work because of the shortage of nurses at LBJ. “When I came back to work, the nurses were working 12 hours shifts, and that’s still the case now,” she said. Mrs. Reid reminded the students of the theme of the evening’s ceremony, “O le tautua ma le faamaoni” or to serve faithfully, and said she hoped this will inspire the nurses to do their best no matter what the challenges. “As you move forward in your young career, remember that you are here today because of the many sacrifices your family has made for you to reach this milestone,” said Mrs. Reid, who also called on more of the Territory’s young men and women to take up the nursing profession.

In addition to the caps and pins, two awards were presented during the ceremony. Sandy Nua-Ahoia received the American Samoa Nurses Association Award, and also received the ASCC Nursing Department Award along with classmate Ritchell Toribio. ASCC Nursing Department Chair Lele Ah Mu expressed her gratitude for the support the program has received from the local health community as well as the public. Describing how the Nursing curriculum continues to evolve, Ah Mu said that for the spring 2011 activities, she will add Ofu and Olosega to the schedule for the Community Health clinical experience for the Practical Nursing students in NUR180L. “This experience will provide them the opportunity to utilize all of their knowledge from the classroom and basic skills learned from the hospital, and applying it to assisting clients in caring for themselves at home,” she said.

Ah Mu also said that the ASCC Nursing Department will be included in a documentary to be filmed in 2011 by the Pacific Island Network for Nursing Education Directors (PINNED), a partner of Partnerships Investing in Nursing’s Future (PIN). “They have expressed an interest in interviewing Governor Togiola, and also in filming of our students and faculty as they interact on campus, at LBJ and in the community. We expect this will take place sometime in April,” explained Ah Mu.

In addition to Ah Mu, the ASCC Nursing faculty includes Ann Longnecker, CNM; and Adeile Feleti, AS, Office Tech. Adjunct faculty includes Patricia Brooks, MSN, RN; Josephine Fuga, BSN, RN; Aiga Peneueta-Mareko, BSN, RN; Christine Peters, BSN, RN; Toaga Seumalo, MSN, RN; Syliva Tauiliili, MPH, RN; Arizona Ve’ave’a, BSN, RN; and Dr. Evelyn Ah Hing-Fa’aluaso, PharmD.

Photo Captions:

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ASCC Nursing students take their Nurse's Oath during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony held in mid-December. Of the nine students who have completed their studies, more than half have also passed the national examination to be qualified as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

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ASCC Nursing students perform a hymn during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony held in mid-December. Of the nine students who have completed their studies, more than half have also passed the national examination to be qualified as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

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ASCC Nursing student Ramona T. Niusulu receives her Nurse's Cap from Department Chairperson Lele Ah Mu during the Cap and Pinning Ceremony held in mid-December. Of the nine students who have completed their studies, more than half have also passed the national examination to be qualified as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

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