“Not everything that matters can be counted.” Capping ceremony of nursing and midwifery graduates

The capping ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates in the auditorium. In the front row sit people in academic gowns—the teaching staff. Behind them stand the graduates in colorful outfits, wearing nursing and midwifery caps and holding their diplomas.

It was their day. The graduates of full-time first-cycle studies in nursing and midwifery took part in a symbolic capping ceremony and received their diplomas.

The ceremony was hosted by Prof. Mariusz Gujski, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, while the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw was represented by Prof. Marek Kuch, Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Education.

- The capping ceremony is part of tradition, it also symbolizes the relay of generations, learning from a master, which certainly works in life - argued the vice rector, referring to his own experiences.

Let's learn from Einstein

Throughout the ceremony, however, the most frequently recurring theme was empathy and sensitivity, which are essential for the nursing and midwifery professions. After all, these professions are much more than just a job -they also involve being with other people, accompanying them in illness, recovery, and suffering.

- Despite the procedures, genuine care must go beyond nursing change-of-shift report - said Łukasz Czyżewski, MD, PhD, Vice Dean for Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences - It's not just about monitoring the patient, but above all, about being there for them in the here and now. What is important is his gaze in which we can see both sadness and fear. We will not find this gaze in a cardiac monitor. Let’s not allow the numbers to obscure what is most important in another human being. Albert Einstein placed the maxim “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts” in his office. Let's remember that.

Mandatory program points

The graduates officially accepted their professional titles and took an oath, the content of which is the same for both fields of study. The oath was received from the nursing graduates by Łukasz Czyżewski, MD, PhD. From the midwifery graduates, it was received by Dr. Agnieszka Iwan, third-year supervisor. And finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for. 200 nursing graduates and 87 midwives received their caps and diplomas.

Awards, distinctions, congratulations

Some graduates were additionally recognized for their special achievements. The awards, funded by the Warsaw Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives for outstanding academic achievements, were presented by Anna Dudzińska to:

Józefina Pypeć (nursing)
Alicja Bobrownicka-Libchen (nursing)
Mateusz Chołuj (nursing)
Ewa Ziędalska (midwifery)
Gabriela Kosińska (midwifery)
Oliwia Szatkowska (midwifery)

The awards and distinctions granted by our university were presented by Prof. Mariusz Gujski and Prof. Marek Kuch. They were received by:

Józefina Pypeć for the highest grade point average in the first cycle studies in nursing, obtained in the 2022-2025 academic years (average 4.82)
Karolina Litwin (nursing) for her active participation as a student representative in the first-cycle studies in nursing
Aleksandra Miłoszewska (nursing) for her organizational activities on behalf of the faculty
Ignacy Sakiewicz (nursing) for his organizational, teaching, sports, and promotional activities for the faculty
Oliwia Szatkowska for the highest grade point average in the first cycle studies in midwifery, obtained in the 2022-2025 academic years (average 4.84)
Wiktoria Szczygieł for her active participation as a student representative in the first-cycle studies in midwifery
Julia Wyszyńska for her scientific work for the faculty

Graduates’ speeches

Last but not least, the graduates took the floor. During their short speeches, a slideshow was displayed on the screens in the auditorium presenting nursing and midwifery students’ life from 2022 to 2025. The photos were funny and touching. They documented how daily toil and hardship were combined with joy and fun.

- It was a challenging and demanding journey, but also a beautiful one, because it brought us not only knowledge and skills, but also unforgettable moments - said Małgorzata Krupińska, a third-year midwifery graduate. - Friendships and experiences have shaped us as future nurses and midwives. We are now entering a world where our work will have a real impact on the most important moments of human life. It is not only a great responsibility, but also a privilege.

During the speeches given by the graduates, there was no shortage of thanks for the lecturers and supervisors.

- You gave us not only theoretical knowledge, but also taught us empathy and sensitivity towards other people - said Karolina Litwin, a third-year nursing student. - You supported us every step of the way. You gave us advice. We weren't afraid to ask you questions, we felt safe, and we knew that we still had the right to make mistakes.

The graduates thanked their classmates for their care, motivation, shared learning, and mutual understanding. And these were not empty words. You didn't have to be a medium to feel the wave of positive energy that filled the auditorium at the Didactic Center that day.

Who attended the ceremony

Many representatives of our university attended the ceremony. In addition to those mentioned above, present were: Prof. Renata Główczyńska, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Piotr Regulski, MD, PhD, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; Olga Ciepiela, MD, PhD, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, Chairman of the Health Sciences Discipline Council; Wojciech Bogusz, Deputy Chancellor; Filip Raciborski, MD, PhD, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; Patryk Rzońca, MD, PhD, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; representatives of the Faculty of Health Sciences Council, academic teachers, and representatives of the Faculty of Health Sciences departments.

There were also guests, including: Urszula Kuroczycka, Deputy Director of the Health Department of the Mazovian Provincial Office; Anna Janik, Vice President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives; Anna Dudzińska, Chairwoman of the Warsaw Regional Council of the Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives; Dr. Barbara Mazurkiewicz, Vice Chairwoman of the Warsaw Regional Council of the Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives; Marzena Kowalczyk, Acting Director of the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw; Justyna Mieszalska, President of the Board of Directors of the Medical Center WUM; Julita Misiak, Director of Obstetrics and Nursing at the University Center for Women's and Newborn Health at the Medical University of Warsaw; Dr. Karolina Prasek, Director of the Nursing and Obstetrics Development Department at the Medicover Group; Anna Sadkowska, Deputy Director of Nursing at the Independent Complex of Public Healthcare Facilities in Warsaw-Ochota; Dr. Urszula Tataj-Puzyna from the Postgraduate Medical Education Center; Katarzyna Petrzak-Nocuń, ward nurse at the Chair and Department of Neurology UCK WUM.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. In the foreground, a person wearing a gown and cap is standing at a lectern with a microphone, giving a speech. In the background, several other people, also dressed in gowns, are sitting.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A group of young women and men sitting in an auditorium, dressed in colorful medical uniforms: pink, blue, green, and purple.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. In the foreground, a man in a red gown and biretta is speaking into a microphone. The man is wearing a rector's chain. In the background, several people in blue gowns are seated.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman is speaking at the podium. She is wearing a white jacket, black dress, and nurse's cap.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A man stands at the podium, addressing the audience. He is dressed in a blue gown and cap.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A large group of people, mostly women, stand in rows by their chairs in the auditorium. They are dressed in colorful outfits, mainly in shades of blue, gray, and beige.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery students. Four people in colorful medical uniforms (two young women and two young men) are sitting in the front row. Behind them are four people in white uniforms who are placing nursing caps on the heads of those seated.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. Young women in medical uniforms and nursing caps stand in line before an older man in a red gown, who hands them their diplomas.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A young woman in a beige medical uniform and nursing cap stands in the middle of the auditorium, holding a blue folder with the words “Medical University of Warsaw” written on it.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery students. A group of young women in colorful medical uniforms and nursing caps sit on the stage in the auditorium. Behind them stand older women in white uniforms, placing nursing caps on the heads of those seated.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A group of young women in colorful medical uniforms and nursing caps sit in the auditorium.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. Young women and a young man in medical uniforms and nursing caps sit in the auditorium, holding blue folders with the words “Medical University of Warsaw" written on them.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a blue gown and cap speaks at a lectern with two microphones. Four people in gowns are seated in the background.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A man in a red gown presents a diploma to a young woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery students. Older women in white uniforms and midwife caps stand behind a row of young women sitting on chairs, also dressed in white uniforms and midwife caps.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery students. A group of young women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps sit in red chairs in an auditorium. Some of them are holding blue folders with the words “Medical University of Warsaw” written on them.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery students. A group of young women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps sit on red chairs in an auditorium. The women face each other and talk.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap receives a document from an elderly man in a red academic gown.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. Three women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps sit in rows of red chairs. Two of them give a thumbs up, and all three hold navy blue folders in their hands.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap stands behind a lectern, holding sheets of paper. Next to her stand two people in dark academic gowns.

Uroczystość czepkowania absolwentów pielęgniarstwa i położnictwa. Kobiety w białych uniformach medycznych i czepkach położnych stoją wzdłuż rzędów czerwonych krzeseł. Na pierwszym planie znajduje się kobieta z długimi blond włosami, patrząca przed siebie.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a blue medical uniform and midwife's cap stands on stage and shakes hands with an elderly man in a red academic gown.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap stands behind a lectern with two microphones.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. Women in medical uniforms and nursing and midwifery caps are seated in a large hall, holding blue folders.

Graduation ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates. A woman in a green medical uniform and a nurse's cap stands behind a lectern with two microphones, holding sheets of paper.

A woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap stands outside the building with her hand raised. In the foreground, another woman in a white medical uniform and midwife's cap looks in her direction.

Four women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps stand in front of the Warsaw Medical University building. Each of them is holding a navy blue briefcase.

Four people are standing in front of the Medical University of Warsaw building. A woman in a medical uniform and nurse's cap is holding a navy blue briefcase and a bouquet of flowers. Next to her stands a woman holding a large teddy bear and a man in a navy blue academic gown.