Nursing Alumna Receives Bronx Community Service Award
6/13/2017
Riverdale, N.Y. – Mount nursing alumna Roselande Cherubin ’17 received one of Bronx Community Board No. 8’s 2017 Community Service Awards June 12, 2017. The award acknowledges the volunteer efforts of exceptional individuals and organizations in the Bronx.
“When I learned I won this award, I got goosebumps,” Ms. Cherubin said. “I pursued nursing because I love taking care of people. It’s just part of who I am.”
During her freshman year at the Mount, Ms. Cherubin learned about volunteer opportunities at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health. “I started out transporting seniors, but as time went on, my work became more varied,” she said. Over time, Ms. Cherubin also performed her clinical rotations at the senior health organization. “I love working with seniors because they’re so wise,” Ms. Cherubin said. “They have so much to teach us.” A kind word or even a bright “good morning” was enough to elicit a smile, Ms. Cherubin noted. “They just want to be noticed.”
Ms. Cherubin’s interest in nursing began when she was only about eight years old. “My grandfather had a stroke,” she said. “It was minor, but it got me to start asking questions. I wanted to know what a stroke was, what it meant.” She began helping her family care for her grandfather after school and during the summer. “When my grandfather first came out of the hospital, he was in a nursing home for a short time,” Ms. Cherubin said. “I got to know everyone there. Soon I wasn’t just visiting my grandfather, but spending time with other patients, too.”
That formative experience stuck. “When I think of nursing, the first thing I think about is advocacy,” Ms. Cherubin said. “You are an advocate for every patient. Many people don’t know the full scope of what nurses do. It goes beyond helping the doctor. It’s getting to know the patients well enough to ensure they’re receiving the care they deserve.”
A Brooklyn native, Ms. Cherubin chose the Mount because of the reputation of its nursing program. “The curriculum was very challenging, and the experiences I got to have through clinical training were invaluable.” She cites many mentors, from peers to professors, including Mary DiBuono, R.N., B.S.N., M.S., Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Simulation Labs Coordinator in Mount Saint Vincent’s Department of Nursing, as steady sources of encouragement.
“[Ms. DiBuono] always told me to keep pushing, that I could do it,” Ms. Cherubin said. One of Ms. Cherubin’s proudest moments was her induction into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau. “At first, I didn’t think I was going to be able to get in,” Ms. Cherubin said. “I was intimidated—it was so prestigious! But I gained so much confidence [at the Mount]. I’m looking forward to wherever the road takes me.”
Ms. Cherubin plans to pursue surgical nursing. “I feel if I master that, I’ll be able to do anything,” she said. But that doesn’t mean she’ll forget her first love: working with the elderly. “I think I’ll always spend time volunteering with seniors. To know their history is important.”
“Ms. Cherubin was wonderful to have for four years as part of our volunteer team,” said Josephine Catalano, Director of Volunteer Services at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, who nominated Ms. Cherubin for the award. “Her compassion and positive energy were evident every day. She’s going to be a fantastic nurse.”
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of professional accomplishment, service, and leadership in the 21st century.