Private Pinning Ceremony

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Hi y'all, my main question is did anyone have a non-school affiliated pinning ceremony or know of someone who has attended one? If so, what was it like? My class really needs ideas!

We are graduating in December, but because of the lack of support from school officials, they have quit giving December graduations. Instead, anyone who graduates in the fall must wait until the following May and be pinned/go through graduation. I happen to think it's ridiculous. Many of my fellow students are moving away, including myself, and will not be able to attend a May ceremony. So we have decided to have a private ceremony and I would really appreciate some suggestions on how it could be ran. We know we are having our family pinning us but that's about all we know!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

:laugh:

The pinning ceremony originated in hospital-based diploma schools, in which they were the official graduation ceremony, the school putting its final "stamp of approval" on you before sending you out into the world. TPTB in nursing worked hard to get nursing out of hospitals and into colleges and universities, and have been largely successful in doing that. In colleges and universities, the official graduation ceremony is the school-wide commencement ceremony and the pinning ceremony has become redundant, which is why so many schools now balk at supporting them. Having your own, unofficial pinning ceremony is as pointless and meaningless as throwing your own, private graduation ceremony. Certainly you've worked hard, you've been through a lot with your classmates, and you deserve to celebrate that. Throw yourselves a great party -- but don't call it a "pinning ceremony," because it's not.

I respect the previous poster's opinion, but here's mine: I think that's kind of a sweet idea, actually. Especially if you all are a pretty close-knit group! Maybe it won't have any kind of "professional" meaning, and maybe it won't be closely related to the original meaning of the ceremony, but it might be a nice way to give "closure" to your cohort! Just my $0.02 -- no flames please ;)

I appreciate both of your opinions. However, we are all close and we have collectively decided to throw ourselves a ceremony because no one is going to attend the "official" one given by the school five months after we have already finished. We will not be having an official 'graduation' either. But we WILL see to it that we be pinned. We are ordering pins and lamps and will have someone close to our class officiate the proceedings. No, it will not mean anything to the school, and yeah, people may look at us like we're goofy for doing it ourselves, but we have worked hard and want to do something for ourselves without waiting and sharing it with the spring graduating class. I'm only asking for ideas to make it a nice ceremony. ;)

Specializes in Cardiac.
The pinning ceremony originated in hospital-based diploma schools, in which they were the official graduation ceremony, the school putting its final "stamp of approval" on you before sending you out into the world. TPTB in nursing worked hard to get nursing out of hospitals and into colleges and universities, and have been largely successful in doing that. In colleges and universities, the official graduation ceremony is the school-wide commencement ceremony and the pinning ceremony has become redundant, which is why so many schools now balk at supporting them. Having your own, unofficial pinning ceremony is as pointless and meaningless as throwing your own, private graduation ceremony. Certainly you've worked hard, you've been through a lot with your classmates, and you deserve to celebrate that. Throw yourselves a great party -- but don't call it a "pinning ceremony," because it's not.

Harsh!

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

I don't want to flame the poster who said a it's pointless because I can understand why they would see it the way they do and it's their right to feel that way. However it is a but harsh to call it meaningless in general. In college the pinning ceremony has lost it's original intent academically. But to many students (myself included) it is like a right of passage and a comet ion of a journey. I also want to be pinned when I graduate for my own personal reasons. So for the OP to want a nice private ceremony is not meaningless. Maybe to the academic and professional world. But to a group of friends who grew close because of nursing school, there IS meaning.

For OP, maybe rent a rec room at a nice park so that you can decorate it with school colors and fun medical like decorations. Then whoever is officiating the "ceremony" for you can either write a congratulatory speach, or maybe even each student write their own to present. The after speach(s), the officiate can present the pins one at a the down a row of students, or by calling up one at a time, to give each graduate that moment to shine and feel special while family takes pics. Maybe order some lunch type food and have some wine and have a little celebration after. You could probably do the whole thing in like 2 hours toap unless you guys want to go longer. I'm sure there are graduation party Pinterest boards that could have some cool ideas for what to do at your ceremony. And Congrats on being so close to completion!!

Thank you! We are using a local high school's auditorium but the pinterest ideas are great! I don't know why I didn't think of that! :)

OP, you might even consider making this an opportunity for you and a couple of your classmates to form a committee for future classes who wish to do the same. I'm sure your experience could light the way for future "graduates." You all could pass the torch year to year, and that way your experiences wouldn't be lost, the tradition could manifest, and the classes to come would have way more support than you currently have. Just a suggestion...

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you ordering school pins or customizing your own?

Are you having a licensed nurse officiate to make it more meaningful?

Throw yourself a great party and call it whatever you want. Congrats on your achievement.

I don't want to flame the poster who said a it's pointless because I can understand why they would see it the way they do and it's their right to feel that way. However it is a but harsh to call it meaningless in general.

What the OP is proposing makes exactly as much sense and s/he and her/his classmates holding their own commencement ceremony because it's inconvenient to attend the school's commencement in May, and handing each other pieces of paper that they call "diplomas." Would anyone here say "Oh yeah! That's a great idea! You should totally do that!"??

I agree the students have worked hard, together, to get to where they are, and I totally agree they deserve and should throw themselves some kind of great celebration, together, of all they have achieved. Just don't call it a "pinning ceremony."

(And, just out of curiosity, what is a "comet ion of a journey"?)

Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

Cool thing is, you can do anything you want. I do understand the need to celebrate this achievement, it is a great thing. I feel it is incredibly short sided of the school not to do this for you. I understand not having 2 graduation ceremonies, but pinning ceremonies are usually specifically for nurses and more of a small quaint get together. For mine it was only friends, family, and a few instructors (other than nursing specific instructors) that could show. I would like to know what position the nursing department is taking.

Anyway, I think I would scale things back a little. Find a large restaurant that books a large room for events. Maybe a hotel with catering. Think of it, you don't have the time to plan, set up, take down, decorate, undecorated, etc. Catering doesn't always mean a dinner, could just be light refreshments. Talk to the regional ANA or state nursing association. They may be able to help or at least donate to the cause. Our state nurses association donated 2 sheet cakes, punch, cookies, and 6 people for serving/attending.

Good luck. I would appeal to the nursing education staff to attend even though it isn't a school sanctioned event.

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