I had my pinning this week....here is my take on it.

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At my nursing school, we had over 100 nursing graduates...it was a very large group because our school has a part-time program and it includes those graduates as well.

Our pinning ceremony was beautiful...we didn't have the lamps and things...those have gone away due to fire hazards.. but they did have the auditorium decorated very nice...there were tons of people there and you could "feel the love". :redbeathe

When we lined up to do our procession in....I didn't know what to expect...I, of course, had never been to a nursing pinning before...so we were out in the hallway.

I want to say first that many of us (and to my pleasant surprise MOST of us), elected to wear a traditional nursing dress (yes...dress), with white hose, shoes, and the nursing cap.

It was up to us what to wear...we could have wore white scrubs if we wanted to.

As soon as I took a view, for the first time, in my full length mirror...I got so emotional I almost cried...I really looked like a nurse...I am just a couple of weeks from being done with school (we have ours before graduation)...I had my dress and my cap on...and I had never been so proud to wear white in my life.

It had a very, very different feeling than wearing our whites for clinicals.

I was wondering if some students would wear dresses and caps..and I looked around, and though it was optional, I was also very proud to be in the majority. To me, it was traditional...it made me feel like a part of all of those nurses when pinning ceremonies started...wearing caps similar to mine...to me it was just as part of pinning as a veil was to a wedding dress....it just seemed to "go".

When we walked into this massive auditorium...that had tons more people that were standing...a spotlight was on the first student in the processional...when she started to walk in...the entire audience stood up and applauded as we entered the room....the applause roared through the auditorium and in an instant...I was choked up with tears.

Yes, this was a huge accomplishment...it was more than just finishing a degree...sometimes I felt that it was just more work than other degrees...but when you graduate from other disciplines...you sure as heck don't get a welcoming to the community like this.

I just look forward to the day, that I will get to put RN after my name.

I plan to go further with my education...but nothing, absolutely NOTHING could top what I felt that day.

So...to those of you that don't want to wear the "silly cap" or the "whites again"...I am here to tell you...please do...seriously...please do...and wear it proudly...don't miss your pinning for the world.

There is nothing like it.

NatsFan15

37 Posts

I start my nursing classes two weeks from today. I'm printing this out for inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your day with us.

NC Girl BSN

1,845 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I feel you on the emotions of the pinning ceremony. It was a beautiful thing!

intuition

171 Posts

Specializes in E.R..

Well thank you for the description. It seems like a huge mystery, that is kept hush hush, until finally it is your time to experience it. Congrats!

NoviceRN10

901 Posts

I can't wait for my pinning ceremony, late this year :). I'm curious, where do you live (what region) that they have the students wear white nurse caps and dresses for the pinning? Are you going to be wearing them for work too? Or are they purely symbolic of your course of study? My school has the students wear black pants or skirts, white shirt, and our white lab jackets.

sunray12

637 Posts

The old fashioned uniform might look nice on some people but I can guarantee I wouldn't add anything to a gathering if I wore one :). I'm glad you had a nice ceremony and I can't wait till I'm in your shoes and just minutes from graduation.

I should add ... Congrats!!

BabyLady, BSN, RN

2,300 Posts

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
I can't wait for my pinning ceremony, late this year :). I'm curious, where do you live (what region) that they have the students wear white nurse caps and dresses for the pinning? Are you going to be wearing them for work too? Or are they purely symbolic of your course of study? My school has the students wear black pants or skirts, white shirt, and our white lab jackets.

Oh...it wasn't required. As long as you wore white pants and top (medical) and clean white shoes, that was all you had to do.

However, we asked if we could wear dresses and they said yes because the protocol allowed for it because we have a very predominant religion here that only allows women to wear skirts.

The caps were also optional.

It was just what most of us decided to do to make it special.

sparky99

54 Posts

Thanks for sharing, Lady, and congratulations!

Our CC has the graduates wear white uniforms but not dresses and caps. I kind of wish they did offer the dress and cap because I'd like to feel connected to our great heritage of nursing through history. They do use lamps and play the song "Go Light Your World" for the closing. A Nursing graduation is a very emotional event.

I just have to share a goodie from my daughter's graduation a few years back. She was a single mom with two kids under 7 while going to school. There was a little bit of crowd noise throughout most of the ceremony, but for some reason when they called her name, the whole place went silent. Then we heard a little voice ring out all over the auditorium, "I love you Mom!" I don't think anyone will ever forget that.:redpinkhe

Specializes in LTC.

Thanks so much for sharing ! Congrats too. Your story makes me want to shut down my computer, leave my office, and go to the library to study so that in July 22, 2009 I'll be able to have the same experience as you had.

I've been to two pinning ceremonies both were for my mom who did the LPN and RN program, and I cried every time. The nursing graduates look so beautiful in their white dresses and nursing caps, and all I can do is imagine myself in their shoes some day. I also love the white cap... its tradition and I don't mind wearing it. Aw, just thinking about it now makes me want to cry. Can't wait to see that day !

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