Vent! They cancelled our pinning!

smk1, LPN · May 2, 2008

I suggest that the president or leader of your student nurses organization/club or government call local hospitals to see if any would be willing to donate a large conference room for an evening so that the pinning could be done there. It is a great way for the hospital nurse recruiter to meet and hand out cards to students and a great way to show appreciation of all of the students hard work (probably at their hospitals too!). If this fails, Call other organizations that maybe the students have volunteered at and see if they have a small conference room that they would be willing to donate the use of for an evening. Offer to have a committee for set up and clean up and put restrictions on the guest lists for the students so that you can pare down the list of attendees. Good luck. If no one is willing to do this then someone's backyard, or ask if someone lives in an apartment or condo with a party /rec room facility that can be reserved for your pinning. The school district is another possibility.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · May 2, 2008

For our graduation we were left out in the cold when the school that has been hosting our graduation year after year scheduled another event on the same day. They were actually charging us a pretty penny too But nevermind that. We quickly formed a committee that was able to find a school so we could use their auditorium. It was way more beautiful, near new and guess what? FREE! Wow so much better.

so you never know. Public schools are a good place to consider to hold your ceremony. Good luck!

firstaiddave908 · May 3, 2008

good luck i hope it works out for you.

WDWpixieRN, RN · May 3, 2008

Wow....that's just so sad for this class...it's such a beautiful way to complete and finalize years of frustration, exhilaration, bonding, and learning....

I think you have some fantastic suggestions above and hope that someone will work on having a pinning for this semester's class.

Best wishes!!

melsman1904 · May 3, 2008

If no other place is available, try a church. Maybe someone in your class attends a church with a large enough sanctuary to host many guests. Also, most churches have a fellowship hall attached to them that would be perfect for after-pinning festivities. Good luck with your search!

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · May 3, 2008

Do you have any idea why they've cancelled the event?

I guess I shouldn't complain. We're having our striping in the student cafeteria. And despite the fact that there is a fancy new theater on campus for the "real" graduation (all the other students), the nurses graduate in the gymnasium. All of our guests will be seated in the bleachers. But even after all of that, we still get to be on campus.

I'm wondering why it was changed for your class. Doesn't seem fair.

elkpark · May 3, 2008

The issue with pinning ceremonies is they originated in hospital-based diploma programs, and the pinning ceremony was the graduation ceremony. Now that most schools of nursing are part of a community college or university, the graduation ceremony for nursing students, as for the students in all the other departments/colleges of the larger institution, is the single, school-wide commencement ceremony. A growing number of schools are balking at the idea of the nursing students having their own, additional, private ceremony, and I can see the point of the objections. (Esp. since, in many schools, the nursing students often skip the commencement ceremony and only go to the pinning -- that really ticks off the college/uni administration ...)

As much as I love the tradition and ceremony of the pinning ceremony and cherish the memories of the pinning ceremonies at my diploma school long ago, I have to say that it's becoming increasingly anachronistic and redundant. Nursing students are now the same as the students in all the other departments/colleges of the larger institution, and it's hard to make the case for why they should get special treatment when graduation rolls around ...

(BTW, nursing students organizing and putting on "their own" pinning ceremony makes exactly as much sense as students putting on "their own" commencement ceremony. Makes the whole process meaningless.)

suanna · May 3, 2008

I'm sorry if this was important to you but I have always considered "pinning" to be a bit condescending for professional nurses. I received a B.S. degree in nursing science. Other degree granting majors don't have a jewelry ceremony- they figure a diploma is enough. The pinning is a throwback to an earlier form of nursing education.

justme1972 · May 3, 2008

Ok.....since you can't use the CAMPUS to do it, call one of the local high schools that has a large auditorium...they will usually allow things like that for free.

If it's not costing the school a penny....then I fail to see why the faculty cannot help you organize a pinning elsewhere.

travel soon · May 3, 2008

Okay, so I just heard today that my school is refusing to let us do a pinning ceremony for the graduating nursing class! They said if you want to "graduate" you can do it like everyone else at the normal graduation, and we'll just give you a pin there too. Take into consideration the school pays for none of this ceremony. It's all money raised by fundraisers, money given mostly by the students. But they are refusing to let us have this ceremony on campus. I still have one year left, so I have a year to fight this but it's totally screwing over (pardon the language) the people that are graduating now. It would be one thing if it was a school tradition to do a pinning, but for goodness sake this tradition has been around for all nurses for forever! We've tried to get the faculty involved, but their hands are tied since it's all the administration that decided this. We've thought about doing the ceremony off campus but to rent a place, and get everything that we need it's would be just too much money. I know the people graduating now are really bummed because they have no chance to fight this. I just don't understand how they can do this! I'm sorry I just had to vent. All i know is i'm going to fight like heck to make sure my class has a pinning ceremony even if it has to be in my backyard! Thanks for listening/reading.

I know how you feel, as an LPN I remember so well our pinning, it was one of those moments when you knew you had made it. But as you said our school said they weren't doing it either but that they would do a reception. Get this, like a grade school would do they are have a room set up with food and you may invite your friends and family to come and tour the rooms where you learned to think like a nurse.ha-ha. I think it is so degrading ,oh, and you can wear your pin that day also.

I didn't try to fight it because they said they didn't care if we like it or not.

Now after reading your post I just have to wonder if the pinning is going to be a thing of the past like so many other great traditions. I hope you win your fight and I would like to ask if maybe you could get a business of some kind or hospital in your area to sponsor your pinning. The hospitals would I am sure because you could use the hospital and it would be one more inexpensive way to recruit nurses for them. Think about it because I am sure it would work... Sorry so long, I wish you all the luck..

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · May 3, 2008

See...I understand the argument about pinning being a seperate event from graduation...one that does not reflect who is graduating the next day from the college.

However, I FIRMLY believe that any healthcare student is put through a seperate form of stress.....how many other degree programs have classes where they could kill people (ok, so auto shop and welding count...but still.) We are the future, and it is a tradition for many schools. It is a good way for the students to bond, and just know that they are unique.....

Pinning is about being a class....and knowing that EVERYONE who walks across that stage may end up caring for someone in your family at some point....Just my .02