History of the Nursing Pin/Ceremony

[RN_2_B_5/2004]

I am looking for the history of how and where the tradition of the nurses pin came to be. I have seen several theories and would really like to know exactly how this tradition started.

Any help woluld be great, Thanks.

Jenn

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Jenn - I am not really sure of the actual origins of the nursing pin, but I do remember from school, that when nurses received their pin anc cap, it was to identify the nursing school from which they graduated. Each school had a unique pin and cap. Sorry, but that is all I remember.

[LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Here are some sites I found with different history about the pinning and capping ceremony:

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/01-10/nightingale_print.html

http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/honors.html

http://www.stclairc.on.ca/programs/departments/nursing/Candlelightceremony.html

[RN_2_B_5/2004]

Jenn - I am not really sure of the actual origins of the nursing pin, but I do remember from school, that when nurses received their pin anc cap, it was to identify the nursing school from which they graduated. Each school had a unique pin and cap. Sorry, but that is all I remember.[/quote

I understand that each school has their own pin, but I am looking for specific info regarding the start of the pinning tradition, what I had found was dating back to Florence Nightingale and the crimean war and about her receiving a broach from the order of merit in England, but not sure if this is actually the case.

Thanks for your reply