What's so great about a pinning ceremony?

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I'm not one for pomp and circumstance, but I must go along to apease the family. They want to watch me walk.

I haven't mentioned to them the pinning ceremony, as I had no intention of making everyone spend more time in the audience watching me. Many nurses and classmates are appaled that I'd not go to pinning, or that I'd choose commencment over pinning. Then, I got to thinking, I don't really know what pinning is about or what it involves.

What is so great about the pinning ceremony? What happens?

About all I've heard is that there are candels, someone of your choice pins a pin on you, and you wear your graduation robes.

I have pinning in just 2 months, so thanks for the nice thoughts about it. I'm excited!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, Ortho-Trauma.

Our pinning ceremony was nice, we wore a white gown with red sash ( as opposed to blue & black for overall university graduation) but to me at the time it did not seem like a big deal so I didn't even invite my family ( to be fair they would have had to drive 8 hours) and to me, graduating from university was a big deal, so I just wanted them to travel once and attend my commencement ceremony which was held the next month.

When my mom found out, however, she was very upset and I don't think she has ever quite forgiven me, and that was 20 years ago lol!

Now, looking back, I see its importance. In all of my travels the pin was misplaced and I recently wanted it again ( I guess I am getting more sentimental in my older age!) anyway, I have a cousin attending my same nursing school so I sent her an email to see if she could ask the registrar about a replacement pin for me the next time she spoke to them. Well she is in her 2nd year, and she didn't even know what the pinning ceremony was all about! I guess it is just not emphasized that much at my particular school. I didn't feel quite so bad then, but I have now told her what its all about and to make sure she asks her mom to attend when it's her turn!! :-)

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I did attend my LPN pinning but decided to forgo the RN pinning. I was just not into it since I had already had the experience previously. Personally I do not feel as though I missed out on anything, other than losing the $20 I had already paid....oh well. Perhaps if I had not done it previously, I would have attended. I remember my LPN pinning very well, we were all so happy!

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Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

No one in my class (or any before us) even bothers with graduation for the school. We only do pinning. It's the ritual that "makes you a nurse". It's smaller than graduation too. There are only 80 RN students that start each semester so it's nice to basically know every single person (I think we're down to 50 and starting our last semester in Aug).

You don't have to do it, but it's a unique ritual that you won't experience ever again.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I hated my college, hated my teachers, hated every second of nursing school. I didn't even bother to ask or check what was "required" or what wasn't. They got my tuition money, I got my BSN conferred, and I was *outta* that craphole second I passed my last final, never to return. Sold my commencement tickets. They sent me a package a few weeks later with my diploma, my pin and a Nightingale lamp. Framed the diploma & tossed the pin & lamp in the garbage.

So no, not everyone gives a fig about ceremonial school stuff.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I hated my college, hated my teachers, hated every second of nursing school. I didn't even bother to ask or check what was "required" or what wasn't. They got my tuition money, I got my BSN conferred, and I was *outta* that craphole second I passed my last final, never to return. Sold my commencement tickets. They sent me a package a few weeks later with my diploma, my pin and a Nightingale lamp. Framed the diploma & tossed the pin & lamp in the garbage.

So no, not everyone gives a fig about ceremonial school stuff.

I am so sorry you had such a negative experience. I still have my pin and my cap after 34 years and I remain proud of them both to this very day.

I guess we all have our preferences and experiences.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

My pinning ceremony meant so much to me. It was more than an award ceremony....it was a celebration of a life long dream which came true at age 44! All the hard work, sacrifices and prayers had finally came to fruition! :nurse:

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Specializes in NICU.

I am not a big ceremony person myself. I skipped the graduation ceremony when I got my BSN and don't regret that for a minute. I did go to the pinning ceremony and it was incredibly meaningful. I was there with the people I had worked so hard with and for. Our families were there and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the journey we had just finished. We were able to choose a person who had been instrumental in helping us through nursing school. I chose my mom (my husband agreed with my choice) and I think it was one of the happiest evenings of her life. She was honored.

Just go. I think you won't regret it one bit.

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I did not join the pinning after I passed the board exam. I did not join the oath taking with the group. I went to the nearest hall of justice office, set an appointment and went in their on my own, on my gala uniform and took my oath. Yes, I am very much on my own and I like it. I just did not see that paying for my fare back to my college is worth it just to be awarded a pin. That is not because it's just a pin. It is because it does not resonate to me so much importance. What resonates in my heart is something else. My point is, do not seek to do or not do something based on what your classmates or batchmates might think. If NURSING and the fact you passed or graduated is so dear and important to you, it does not matter whether your family cares or does not care, by all means pay that fare and do all that you can do to go to that pinning and oathtaking. As for me, even if I were to be given a free ride to my college and given a free accommodation and all the luxuries, I might be too lazy to carry my body forward. I love working, but I do not see that those miscellaneous is necessary for me. But if it were about the launching of my play or movie or something like that. I will pay my whole clan to be there and watch it.

God bless on your pinning.

God bless on your career ahead. :)

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