Graduation Ceremony Woes

[MKANS]

To all those out there who have just graduated from a nursing program, I would like some input on feedback on a predicament that I currently face.

I am a PN student who is due to graduate in less than 2 weeks. About 2 months ago we were presented with the option of having someone of our choice pin us at our "pinning ceremony". When I learned this information, I immediately wanted my grandmother to fill this position for me at graduation for many reasons a few being that, she is and has always been a huge influence in my life, she herself was also a nurse and is one of the main contributing factors to my wanting to become a nurse, and she is also someone I consider to be my best friend. I have already presented this to my grandmother and she was extremely honored and moved by the invitation. Many other students in my class also had significant people in their lives that they wanted to pin them also. The only stipulation to the whole thing was that the person pinning us had to be or have been a nurse. That was it (at that time). Now, with less than 2 weeks left, we are told that we were misinformed and that this is no longer an option for us. That the only person that can pin us is a faculty member. I AM IRRATE. The president of the nursing department said she is the one who will be pinning us. The woman probably couldn't tell you I'm in "her" nursing program, much less my name. We (the entire class) have had no interaction with her. All throughout our program, everything we are told gets changed and our hopes crushed. Our pinning ceremony only comes once and this was something that is extremely inportant to me and I feel like she is once again trying to take that away. The worst part is that other schools in our area allow this, its just a school policy-HOW STUPID IS THAT? I would rather have my certificate mailed to me than have her steal the show. All the reasons I've been given as to why this won't be approved are not legitimate in my opinion. I have an appointment to meet with her in a few days. Please if anyone knows of anyway to help me on this, please offer your advise!!! I won't this to be special and memorable-not a nightmare

Mary Katherine Ivey

PN student @ her wits end :smiley_ab :smiley_ab :angryfire :angryfire

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

I can understand why you are upset. Just don't appear angry at the meeting, be calm and let her know why it is important for you and the other classmates. When I graduated, I had my parents pin me even though they were divorced. And, there were no stipulations about "having to have a nurse pin us". who cares if they were a nurse? As long as they were important in your life and guided you along the way, that's all that counts. I wish you luck!

Jaime

[Cleigh26, BSN, RN]

Do you have class officers---like a president or vice pres that could approach the director or someone else. Two weeks is a little notice and we had personal people pin us at our ceremony and it was that extra special touch. Sorry to hear about it.

[MKANS]

We do have class officers-myself being one. I plan to approach the director at the meeting with the class Pres. and another student. Hopefully all of our viewpoints will have an effect. Thanks for everyone's support and words of encouragement!

Mary Katherine

[BabyRN2Be]

We do have class officers-myself being one. I plan to approach the director at the meeting with the class Pres. and another student. Hopefully all of our viewpoints will have an effect. Thanks for everyone's support and words of encouragement!

Mary Katherine

I agree with you in that this is a very important "rite of passage", and that you want someone personal, who knows you and what you've been through, and not just some administrator who wouldn't know your name if you met her on the street. Just be calm during the meeting, state your views on why it should be someone personal, mention that having someone personal pin you is done at other schools, etc. I hope that all goes well! This is YOUR moment, don't let her steal it away from you. Good luck! :)