When is the pinning ceremony?

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Hi all! Coming out of lurk mode to ask a question about pinning. I'm not a nurse or a student, although I still have hopes for it someday... but for now, my step dd is a student. She's going to a community college for her ADN, doing a 3-year program. She made it through the first 3 semesters just fine, but then failed Med-Surge during her 4th semester. After a year off, she got accepted back into the program, so she is re-taking Med-Surge now (and doing much better!)... then this fall, she will start her final year of the program.

Here's my question - she recently told us that her pinning ceremony will be in May. I'm confused though... isn't the pinning ceremony part of the graduation process? I mean, shouldn't her pinning ceremony be next year, around the time of graduation? Maybe I'm confused on what the pinning ceremony is all about... or maybe she is confused as to who will be participating in this year's pinning ceremony...?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in LDRP.
Hi all! Coming out of lurk mode to ask a question about pinning. I'm not a nurse or a student, although I still have hopes for it someday... but for now, my step dd is a student. She's going to a community college for her ADN, doing a 3-year program. She made it through the first 3 semesters just fine, but then failed Med-Surge during her 4th semester. After a year off, she got accepted back into the program, so she is re-taking Med-Surge now (and doing much better!)... then this fall, she will start her final year of the program.

Here's my question - she recently told us that her pinning ceremony will be in May. I'm confused though... isn't the pinning ceremony part of the graduation process? I mean, shouldn't her pinning ceremony be next year, around the time of graduation? Maybe I'm confused on what the pinning ceremony is all about... or maybe she is confused as to who will be participating in this year's pinning ceremony...?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Um, I have never heard of pinning happening a semester "before" graduating? It usually coincides with graduation but is a separate ceremony. I dont know--maybe her school only does it once a year for everyone-that would make the most sense. (Like every May they just have one pinning for the entire year--maybe it cut costs?)

Anyway, enjoy it! It is a special occassion. :)

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Thanks for your reply, allthingsbright... I do believe her school only does one pinning ceremony per year, but she won't be actually graduating until May of 2007... so wouldn't you assume she'd have her pinning around that same time? I mean, isn't it odd that she would be getting her pin an entire year before graduating?

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Specializes in LDRP.
Thanks for your reply, allthingsbright... I do believe her school only does one pinning ceremony per year, but she won't be actually graduating until May of 2007... so wouldn't you assume she'd have her pinning around that same time? I mean, isn't it odd that she would be getting her pin an entire year before graduating?

Yes, that is strange. Maybe you should ask your daughter to clarify? ;) Best wishes...

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

I would think that she'd get her pin late rather than early??

We have the pinning ceremony for each graduating nursing class with a graduation ceremony for the entire school.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Our school has a graduation every year, but pinning every semester. We don't get pinned until after we pass everything, and complete our preceptorship.

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Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

Same with us, we can't participate until everything is passed, turned in, and until we have finished all clinical hours.

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Specializes in ER.

Our school has one pinning ceremony per year. Those who are in the accelerated BSN program do not graduate until August, but they participate in the May pinning. So she may be correct, if the school only does one pinning per year, depending on when her graduation falls.

One thought I had...there are a couple of places around here that still do a CAPPING ceremony part way through....

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Well, we've finally gotten this cleared up! Her school holds a capping & pinning ceremony each year, where they give the freshmen their caps and the seniors get their pins. She knew she was getting her cap this year, but had misspoken and accidentally told us she was getting her pin. That's why I was so confused. Anyway... thanks for all your input, everyone!

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our pinning cermony is held the same day as our final exam. you have two hours to take the final, and then an hour later, it's the pinning ceremony. here's a couple of things that are messed up about our school's processes. first off, you can participate in the pinning and find out later that you failed your final semester, as our grades are mailed to us a couple of days later. secondly, our pinning ceremony is closed to family. it is a tradition that only students and teachers participate, since they have been with you throughout the program. a lot of us believe that this is messed up because your family should share in this moment. the only activity they can come to is the graduation ceremony, which is for all campuses at our school. just thought i'd share.

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