What exactly is a "pinning ceremony"??

[blueberry21]

I keep hearing about "pinning", is this in addition to graduation? Im a bit confused on this.

Do we wear nurses' uniforms and caps:nurse: instead of the regualr cap and gown? I was accepted for this fall term and I wont really need to worry about this for some time, but Im still a bit curious.

I posted this question on another forum, but it went unanswered, I think.:imbar

Hope to hear soon and solve the mystery:coollook:

Thanks!

[elkpark]

I have to say I'm a little bit more sympathetic to your viewpoint then I was when I was a student.

steph

I assure you that it was a v. long, slow road for me to arrive at this position. I am, as I said earlier, a proud graduate of an old, established diploma school where pinning was our graduation ceremony and reflected 100 years of tradition and history, and I have participated in pinnings since then as a faculty member.

But, the more I think about the issue in the current nursing world, the less sense it (having the ceremonies) makes to me. They are simply, merely vestigial at this point -- nothing more. Empty sentiment that no longer serves any purpose.

[rninme]

Oh elkpark....

I am also a very proud diploma grad.....and my pinning ceremony was a very special moment for me. There are still some diploma schools around....I am a graduate of one of them. There is nothing generic about my school pin....and yes, it represents graduating from a school with 100+ years of nursing education. I am proud of my pin and of the school that it represents.

I guess I am just sad to see some traditions die......

[suzy253, RN]

Oh elkpark....

I am also a very proud diploma grad.....and my pinning ceremony was a very special moment for me. There are still some diploma schools around....I am a graduate of one of them. There is nothing generic about my school pin....and yes, it represents graduating from a school with 100+ years of nursing education. I am proud of my pin and of the school that it represents.

I guess I am just sad to see some traditions die......

Ditto. I'm a very proud (recent) grad of a 3-year diploma program. Another one with 100+ years of producing nurses--very traditional, emotional and wonderful ceremony. I worked so hard to get my beautiful, beautiful pin and proudly wear it when I'm working.

[elkpark]

Oh elkpark....

I am also a very proud diploma grad.....and my pinning ceremony was a very special moment for me. There are still some diploma schools around....I am a graduate of one of them. There is nothing generic about my school pin....and yes, it represents graduating from a school with 100+ years of nursing education. I am proud of my pin and of the school that it represents.

I guess I am just sad to see some traditions die......

Let me clarify -- I'm talking about "duplicate" pinnings at colleges and universities that have commencement ceremonies for all the graduates. I am well aware that there are still (some) diploma schools around -- unfortunately (in my view), a lot fewer than there used to be -- and, of course, they still have pinnings as their graduation cermonies. That just makes sense, and, in that context, they do mean something.

And I, too, proudly wear my pin anytime I wear a lab coat or uniform (and my cap, when I'm "in whites," although I'm in a specialty where we typically wear street clothes). But we are the minority, I'm afraid -- check out the many threads just on this site where many students complain about having to buy a pin and many nurses talk about having thrown it in a drawer after they graduated and have never worn it since ... I'm afraid the larger nursing community has moved on and left us behind -- the college and university nursing programs are a whole different world. Maybe it's better, maybe worse, but that's where we're at.

[niccikatie]

We had our pinning ceremony after the 'big' graduation ceremony at our university. Sounds like URI is a little different as A LOT of the colleges have their own ceremony after (and sometimes before!) the big University-wide ceremony.

Honestly, I have no problem with them either way.

Here is the URI pin:

and the story behind it:

The Origin of the Nursing Pin

The pin of the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, worn by its graduates, was selected by the first graduating class of 1950. It represents three aspects of professional nursing education: the Spirit of Nursing, the Science of Nursing, and the Art of Nursing. The central motif of the pin is an eight-pointed cross, similar to those worn during the Crusades by knights who were members of hospital orders. The cross represents humility, mercy, sincerity, and kindness--qualities of character which the members are encouraged to emulate. Superimposed upon the cross is the University seal which represents the academic and clinical preparation for professional nursing. Borrowed from ancient tradition, a laurel wreath surrounds the pin as a mark of honor and a symbol of esteem.

[emllpn2006]

At my school we had a very eligant pinning ceramony as the only graduation. It was a small practical nursing school. We all wore all white uniforms of our choice and recieved the lamp on knowledge our school pin and recited the nursing pledge. It was a very emotional time with many tears for most of our graduates.