Graduation Ceremonies........

elkpark · May 9, 2007

I teach in the nursing program of a large state university, and the uni has two commencement ceremonies a year -- there is a "full-service" (all the same bells and whistles as in the Spring) commencement at the end of Fall semester, too. More and more colleges and universities are going to that.

Pinning ceremonies vary greatly among nursing schools (too much variety to be able to describe "the" pinning ceremony for you), and many schools don't even have them anymore.

iHeartNICU · May 9, 2007

Well, I graduate this coming December and here's how our school does it. We pay for our own graduation with no help from the school. The may grads got a graduation & pinning payed for by the school completely and just had to pay for a reception if they wanted one. We have to pay EVERYTHING & find the location for a graduation. It's all on our backs. Oh, we also just found out that we have to pay a graduation fee and when we asked why if we already have to pay for everything, the response was that it's to help pay for the may graduation. WHAT??? We have to help them and we get nothing. It's a mess and so not fair. We pay the same tuition, work just as hard, and this is what we get. So frustrating. Hopefully it's not like this everywhere.

samaletta · May 9, 2007

My pinning is tomorrow. Our ceremony is different from others in that we choose a person (friend or family) to pin us. I chose my significant other. He will meet me on the stage and the director hands him the pin and he pins me..... oo000oOoo I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it! Also they give us a single rose. this all happens as they announce my name, his name, where I accepted a job at. Woo hoo!!!

rkrs6673 · May 10, 2007

samaletta-- that sounds wonderful.. My pinning ceremony is Saturday... I am so excited. Anyway congrats everyone!

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · May 10, 2007

I graduated in December. Our class had a pinning ceremony then we were invited to come back in May and walk in formal cap and gown graduation. I did both, my family wanted to see me walk and honestly, I dont regret it a bit, glad they asked me to walk.

Ohmygosh · May 10, 2007

My pinning ceremony is tomorrow as well-- I can't wait!!! I dont know how traditional "our" ceremony will be as I have never attended any others. This is how our pinning will unfold: Ours is held at a local church-- first we file in and take our reserved seats in the sanctuary. Then an instructor will make a few comments and welcoming remarks. Then our class president will make a short speech. When she is through-- a slide show will begin from a collection of photos put together from our "school days" (from the classroom and at clinicals, pre-and post conferences, etc) At the end of the slide show another instructor will call our names and we will walk up on stage to be pinned - on our way up we will drop a pink carnation beside a chair holding the photo of our instructor who died on April 1st from breast cancer (hence the pink) As we are being pinned (by the person of our choice)-- an instructor will be reading a short thank you that we each prepared- After we are pinned we will take a seat on the stage- when we have all been pinned the lights will dim and two instructors will light "nightingale candles" at the end of each row - we will all pass the flame to the person sitting next to us - when all candles are lit - we re-site the pledge and then another instructor performs a "Blessing of our Hands" -- when that is done - we all blow out our candles and finally our dean makes closing remarks!!

Did I mention-- I CANT WAIT!!!!!!! :yeah:

Our school has two graduations as well -- each nursing class is responsible for planning their own pinning ceremony.