Disappointed in Pinning "Ceremony"

peaceful2100, BSN, RN · May 21, 2003

I must say that I am at the middle of the road with this one. My pinning ceremony we were told to be professional and wear our Sunday best (Dress up REALLY nice). For the most part MOST of us did just that. However, I was a little disappointed by the fact that they just called our names and placed the pins in our hands in a little jewlery like box. They did not pin them on us or have anyone else do it.

I can understand with wanting to keep the tradition and professionalism in the ceremony. I can understand how people would think that the public have expectations of us and wearing the white uniforms keeps the professional image of nurses but honestly I personally think for many people that would not matter because today's nurses do not wear white uniforms anymore like in the past. I think how one dress does say a lot but honestly I don't think uniforms will matter. I think it goes way beyond the uniform. That is just my personal opinion.

Honestly I would not have cared if we did uniforms just as long as we did not have to pay a lot for them.

My pinning ceremony was just Ok and I'll keep it at that.

grneyes676 · May 21, 2003

Our Pinning Ceremony was nice. First we had graduation for the entire school and I think pinning was about an hour and half later. So we had time to go to lunch. We wore our caps and gowns and chose a family member/members to pin us. I had my young neice and nephew pin me. It was to hard to decide between my mother and father...lol We had a slide show of our few years together and Helen Erikson (modeling and role modeling) spoke, we recited the nurse prayer and the code of nurses.

Scavenger'sWife, RN · May 22, 2003

My grad was 4 years ago. I had a lot to do w it, as I was Pres of the class. We organized a committee to put the celebration together & voted class-wide for the ideas the committee came up with.

We had college-wide grad at a local theater (very nice - a stage and the theater is 100 yrs old) w mortar boards and gowns etc in the college colors. Nursing had a Pinning ceremony later that day at the school.

Junior class acted as ushers, servers for the food afterward, etc. We processed in to "Pomp & Circumstance" wearing all white uniforms (voted on - our school unis were blue - felt we deserved white now). No candle b/c fire codes.

Dean of school gave nice (short!) speech. A speaker we voted for gave a speech. I gave speech as Pres of class (tradition). Then we were pinned by a person of our choice. We were called up onto the stage, got pinned, were given a yellow rose (voted as class flower) and were hugged or shook hands w teachers that attended. If we wanted to, there were 2 additions to this.

After pinning, we could choose to speak and say a few words of thanks or whatever (One student went to the mic and just said "Thank God it's OVER!!!") THen (if wanted) we could be capped by a teacher or the Dean.

My class was small (23) and about half chose to be capped. A nice symbol, I think.

We had a professional photographer take a class picture for the wall of the school (tradition) and you could buy one if wanted. He would also take personal photos at the reception if you wanted a professional portrait of, say, you & Husband or whatever.

We had a reception afterward with cake & etc hosted by the junior class.

It was wonderful! And GREAT memories! My only regret was that my Dad wasn't there. He died 10 years ago and he had always wanted me to go to college. I know he was "there", but I sure wish I could have had him pin me.

fab4fan · May 22, 2003

Barb/Old Biddy: The pinning ceremony was for the graduates of that program, and if that's how they wanted it, so be it.

I can almost get a mental picture of you sitting there watching it with a sour look, muttering to the person sitting next to you how "when we had our pinning, yada, yada, yada..."

One pinning ceremony does not make or break a professional nurse...surely you can find a better issue in nursing that can get you all fired up.

DeeDee71 · May 22, 2003

Thanks for bring up wonderful memories :) . We had capping half way though school. We all wore our dress school uniform (except for the men of course), we were capped (we had a "still in school cap" then a different one for graduation) by one of our instructors then received our lamps. There were a few songs and speeches, hugs from all our instructors. It was a wonderful afternoon.

During our pinning we all wore white dresses, it wasn't easy but we all found something to wear in white. I was the lucky one. there is an air force base about 10 miles from me, I went to their uniform shop and found a AF nurse's white dress uniform (my dad is army). It really looked sharp, I just wish I could still fit into it I'd wear it everyday lol. We wore our graduation caps (the ones with our school colors on them) with white dresses. One instructor called each of us up we were pinned by another instructor, then received a rose from the 3rd instructor and last the instructor gave us our diplomas. It was a beautiful evening.

Maybe I am just a sappy romantic but I love the traditions of nursing and the proud background we have. I believe our ceremonines honor those who have gone before us.

(BTW when I do where my cap to work I get tons of comments on how professional I look. Maybe there is something still in the public eye about the nurse's cap that makes us professional in their eyes imho)

Sorry this was so long but thanks for letting me share my memories:D .

MishlB · May 22, 2003

While I agree that tradition is nice, maybe it's time for people to see how nurses really are, and not white dress-white stocking and cap wearing servants. It may look professional, but if that is what you want the public to see us as, then I must disagree. Professionalism is more than a white cap that really only gets in the way. Times have changed, just as the image of nursing must change. We are more than a pretty dress and a white cap...don't you think?

DeeDee71 · May 22, 2003

I do not believe I ever said "Professionalism is a white cap", I said those I work with think I LOOK professional in my cap. I am the only nurse in my building I am treated with respect and as a profession because that is what I am. Those I work with know and understand this, those who do not know exactly what I do ask. I then explain to then the role of a nurse which only leads to more respect and comments about how much they admire what I do. It doens't matter if I wear a white dress, stockings and a cap or jeans to work, I am treated as the professional that I am. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones, I can enjoy both the modern and traditional roles of nursing. :cool: :)

Vsummer1 · May 22, 2003

Originally posted by Barb(Old Biddy)
Attended Univ's. Nothing special about it. Graduates wore street clothes and their parents or sig. other put their pins on them. Where in heaven did that idea come from? Had slide show of grads. pictures. At least they had on a white blouse and lab coat in the pics, but most had the long hair hanging down. Looked more like Glamour Shots. Profs. spoke and bragged on themselves about how smart they are and read some silly poems. The last pinning ceremony I went to was beautiful. The graduates wore pretty white dress uniforms, came in with lit candles, recited the N. pledge, and their instructors pinned them. It was very moving to witness that ceremony.

Maybe you don't realize this, but we the STUDENTS who are being pinned PAY for this little to-do. We start raising money the first semester and continue on until we graduate. Some classes do extremely well at fund raising, and some don't.

Some of the students in my class cannot afford to buy a white uniform specifically for a one shot pinning ceremony. We already have to buy the cap and gown for graduation.

In addition to buying whatever we will wear, we have to pay for the rental of the hall (and we have NO CHOICE as to where it is going to be, yet we have to pay for the use of it!). We also have to buy the pins. Over the years, the costs for these items has risen dramatically.

You want to pay for it, then you get to decide what you do or do not include. So, unless you are forking over the bucks, DON'T project your expectations on anyone elses pinning ceremony!

Christian Nurse · May 22, 2003

I wore my cap and gown at my pinning ceremony. I was pinned by the dean of the nursing school while my family cheered, hooped and hollered. We were each given a peach colored rose and introduced as Nurse.....(whatever our last name was). It was great. I had a wonderful time. I cried like a baby...

DebsZoo · May 22, 2003

Originally posted by Vsummer1
Maybe you don't realize this, but we the STUDENTS who are being pinned PAY for this little to-do. We start raising money the first semester and continue on until we graduate. Some classes do extremely well at fund raising, and some don't.

Some of the students in my class cannot afford to buy a white uniform specifically for a one shot pinning ceremony. We already have to buy the cap and gown for graduation.

In addition to buying whatever we will wear, we have to pay for the rental of the hall (and we have NO CHOICE as to where it is going to be, yet we have to pay for the use of it!). We also have to buy the pins. Over the years, the costs for these items has risen dramatically.

You want to pay for it, then you get to decide what you do or do not include. So, unless you are forking over the bucks, DON'T project your expectations on anyone elses pinning ceremony!

Exactly, Val.

Same with the program here, the students pay for their ceremony, pins and refreshments after.

The students vote on how they want the ceremony to go and what to wear.

I just attended this year's and it was beautiful...........street clothes and all

MishlB · May 23, 2003

Originally posted by DeeDee71
I do not believe I ever said "Professionalism is a white cap", I said those I work with think I LOOK professional in my cap. I am the only nurse in my building I am treated with respect and as a profession because that is what I am. Those I work with know and understand this, those who do not know exactly what I do ask. I then explain to then the role of a nurse which only leads to more respect and comments about how much they admire what I do. It doens't matter if I wear a white dress, stockings and a cap or jeans to work, I am treated as the professional that I am. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones, I can enjoy both the modern and traditional roles of nursing. :)

I don't believe I was directing anything at you...and yes, if you act like a professional you are treated like a professional. Period. I was merely saying that a cap does not make one any more professional than anyone else. I just don't see the point in wearing a cap. My uniform and name tag identify me just fine. And I have not come across a situation where I needed to explain my role to gain respect and admiration. I did not choose nursing to gain respect and admiration, but to care for people who need to be cared for.

LaVorneRN · May 23, 2003

Originally posted by cyberkat
We're wearing our graduation gowns for pinning.

This FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aren't you just floating on air!!!!?????

Man, I graduated last year and the time between the pinning and graduation I could just scream and jump for joy! I am so excited for you and all the other graduates! You worked so hard and it's all worth it. You should feel the greatest sense of accomplishment.Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!