Honoring New Nurses: SLV Health Celebrates 2026 RN Graduates

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, SLV Health celebrated its 2026 New Graduate RN Dinner at the SLVH Education and Conference Center. As the new nurse graduates enjoyed a lovely dinner, they listened to guest speaker Aaron Crowther, CRNA, who delivered an engaging and heartfelt speech filled with wisdom, humor, and practical advice for those entering the nursing profession.

Appreciate the Present

Crowther began by sharing the reality of nursing: “You’ll probably get cussed out, yelled at, things thrown at you. But I know you probably figure that when school’s done, you’re going to have this nice, you know, work-life balance. But, in reality, there’s not. You’ll have to work nights and sometimes holidays and be on call.” He reminded the graduates that expectations are not always reality, and that the nursing journey brings ongoing challenges and learning opportunities at every stage. Nurses begin their careers by learning new skills, progress into leadership roles over time, and eventually transition into retirement.

He illustrated his second lesson with a story about climbing mountains for his 22nd wedding anniversary, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the present. “If you keep looking to be happy when, then you’ll end up spending most of your life unhappy. So don’t keep looking to be happy when, or you won’t enjoy the mountain of happiness you’re standing on.”
Take Care of Yourself

Care For Yourself

Crowther’s third lesson came from a trip to Rome and the Pantheon, which has stood for 1,900 years. He explained that the Pantheon lasts because it continually repairs itself, paralleling the need for nurses to practice self-care to in their demanding careers. He advised, “Make sure you take time to take care of yourself. When it’s time to take a break or lunch, leave the floor and go eat. Make sure you have something to drink. When you’re on call, eat when you can, shower when you can, and sleep when you can... you never know when you’re going to get called. Move your body. Whatever you like to do. Ride a bike, swim, do something for yourself. Make sure you have friends and mentors you can communicate hard things with. And use your PTO. Go on vacation and create memories.”

Concluding the celebration, the SLV Health Nursing Directors presented the new nurses with gifts and congratulated them on their hard work and accomplishments.

The evening ended with kind closing remarks from Roberta Bean, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, who expressed her pride in the graduates and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence as they embark on their nursing careers.