Disappointed in Pinning "Ceremony"

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Originally posted by shelleybelle

I graduate July 22 :D and we're having a formal pinning ceremony. We have to wear all white (we can also choose to wear our clinical uniform). We do the candle thing and a family member pins us. My only dilemma is WHO to pin me? But hey... I'll be MORE than DELIGHTED to make that decision :D

What a great day to walk! (it's my birthday, heehee!)

This event is for you and all those who supported you but you know what? It's YOUR day!!!!! I'm sure it will be memorable and exciting for you no matter who pins you!!!!! Congratulations!!!!;)

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My apologies then MishlB

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In agreement with Val's post, we too paid for our pinning under pretty much the same circumstances as hers. We wore street clothes and had a slide show. It was short and sweet and my classmates gave honored me with the priviledge of giving the speech for the ADN program. That made it even more special for me. My family couldn't be there but it was okay because it was our day and we were all together basking in the radiance of our victory. And believe me, you all know what I mean if you remember those times you felt like you didn't have anymore in you to get to the end. Or you thought you were going to have to go left on that person who irritated you to no end. The comraderie, the tears, the late night cram sessions in Barnes&Noble!

It was such a release of the pent up stress and tension built up over those last 2 semesters. By the time the pinning came around I felt like there was this glow of joy all around me. It was the biggest accomplishment of my life. Regardless of what spectators thought of the program it didn't matter because it was OUR day.

Again, well done to those who just recently graduated, those counting down the days , and those counting down the months!

I applaude you!!!!!:D

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

I went to my alma mater's class grad this week (a high school) & was moved by the excitement. I wondered who would be future co-workers, politicians, teachers, all the important things that make our town! it was so moving I cried. My nephew & many kids from church graduated & I jumped up & down for them! :roll I know how proud their parents were. Just had to mention this!!!

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Well, we had our pinning and Commencement yesterday.

We wore graduation gowns, like I said earlier. Faculty wore full regalia. We chose which instructor we wanted to pin us. Several students got up to make some nostalgiac speeches which brought tears to everyone's eyes.

Grad students got hooded or picked up their certificates.

It was really pretty well done. But no, we had no say whatsoever in how it was going to go. It would have been nice to have had a capping ceremony. But one, no one makes our school caps "flossies" they're called, anymore, and two, we have way too many men. I don't know what they would do for capping.

The afternoon ceremony was where we got our diplomas with the entire school. And wonder of wonders, the newly graduated docs turned and tipped their caps to the graduating nurses! That may be the last time a doc shows us any respect. :)

It was nice, but somehow they managed to muck up the diplomas and we had to get them straightened out after.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

That actually sounds pretty nice.

We did the old walk with the candles, nursing uniforms and pledge etc. and I thought it rather too cheesy.

To each his/her own I guess.

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LOL...please tell me your school's caps aren't called "flossies." In my area, a "flossie" refers to a particular portion of the female anatomy!

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LOL. Nope, they are truly are caled Flossies. They are from a pattern Florence Nightingale sent to the founder of the school, minus the chin ribbons. They were lacy, fluted things.

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My pinning ceremony was really beautiful and most of us were crying at some point!!! We wore white nursing dresses!! Many students wanted otherwise, but in the end we were all happy of the decision to stay traditional. It was in our church with beautiful flowers lining the whole place. We picked the faculty to be involved, and after we were pinned by our directors, we each received a beautiful calla lily. We had a speaker from our class that related our becoming nurses as a "gift" we will have and cherish all our lives. It was just really moving, and after four years with my fellow classmates, it just really meant alot and something I'll take with me forever!!!! To all you students out there, in the long run you may think the attire is "not in style", but you'll remember it I promise!!!

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

Our class (of '81) graduated in a big church, marched to "Pomp and Circumstance", a member of the Junior Class sang The Theme From Mahogany ("Do You Know Where You're Going To?"..I still get chills every time I hear it), and the Director of the School pinned us and removed the black bands from our caps.

I'm sorry that you did not get to have this moment. It meant a great deal to me, to be able to share mine with my family and friends. Like everything else, I guess tradition is is something that can be taken away...If it is taken for granted.

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Being an Aussie Bloke, I wasn't too happy about having to wear "fuschia" or to put it another way PINK to my graduation a couple of years back, equally wretched was the fact that we didn't get to wear mortar boards. What a gyp!!

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:p We just recently had our capping and pinning. We had to wear white dresses or skirts, white hose, shoes. We had two of our instructors put our caps on, then my favorite instructor pinned us. We then received a white rose; then we also had multi colored roses to give to our family members. We received our lamps with candles, said our Florence Nightg. prayer. I am 44, my mom and dad was there, along with 2 of my 3 sisters, and my daughter. My dad made me cry. He wanted this for me probably more than I did. When I saw him crying when I handed him his rose, I lost it. That is something I won't soon forget, how proud he was of me. He told me he felt like he went to school with me. We then had a lovely reception in the church's fellowship hall. We also had a motivational speaker of the classes choosing. He was awesome. We were told we had the largest gathering of family members of any class so far. We also had a cap and gown ceremony the night before. All in all, I would have to give my ceremonies a 10!:)
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