Nursing Pins

RN403, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I bought a nursing pin. It is hanging on my old nursing school hospital badge...sure it meant a lot to me when I first graduated nursing school and sure it is a nice reminder on how far I have come, but, I could have done without it as well. The meaning behind the pin and the amount of importance will differ from person to person.

If it is financially OK with you I would say get it...it is easier to have one and "forget" about it if you find it doesn't mean much to you, however, if you don't get one you might regret it.

Best wishes and congrats on being so close.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I bought one against my better judgement. Haven't seen it in a year or so. I personally would not buy one if I had a do over.

Tara0219 · Feb 12, 2015

We were required to buy a pin in order to participate in our pinning ceremony. It is indeed still in the box in a drawer somewhere.

CIRQL8 · Feb 12, 2015

The pin was a part of senior tuition when I went. We all got a pin. Our pins are (were? This was 1997) quality jewelry. 12 karat gold I think. Expensive. And our initials were stamped in the back of the pin. Some of my coworkers place their pins on their badges. Others do not. I do not. But I think I may one of these days. I like having it even though it's in the jewelry box. It's a symbol of my hard work to survive the hell of nursing school. Every program's pin is different so is also a conversation piece. (Where did you go to school?). And although we are explained the meaning of every etching in the pin (it all means something) I couldn't tell you a single iota of my pin's meaning.

All that to say: ya! Go for it. Get it. It's a symbol (if nothing else) of your hard work.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

In New Zealand we have an RN medal. That has our registration number and name engraved on the back

We also get a badge from our nursing school which is unique to that school

I wear my RN medal

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 12, 2015

Disclaimer: I'm a (relative) new grad.

I graduated last May... I got a pin, and like most of my classmates, it was the school's nursing program pin. We could select from a range of pins from the relatively cheap to ones that were around $500. I don't think any of us chose the expensive one. Strictly speaking, buying a pin was optional. However, if you were participating in the pinning ceremony, it was mandatory that you at least have a pin to use during the ceremony. I definitely wear my pin with pride when I do wear it. As others have said, it's truly but a symbol of how much I have learned and how far I have come since I started this journey to where I am now. In future years, it'll become a symbol of all of that and where I started my career as a nurse. It will be, hopefully, the first in a line of pins that symbolize my achievements as I learn and grow as a nurse.

Incidentally, I also have a more generic pin too. That one's lot in life is simply to show that I'm an RN. I still have my gold pin from when I first became a Paramedic. Technically I'm not supposed to wear it because it indicates that I'm a "Nationally Registered Paramedic" but that has lapsed. I'm still licensed as a Paramedic, but time and circumstances required that I let my NREMT card lapse. One day I'll regain my NREMT registration and be again "allowed" to wear it. That pin, however, holds symbolic meaning for me because of what I had to do to get licensed.

Libby1987 · Feb 12, 2015

I think mine was gold, I lost it at work soon after graduation, only a few weeks in, searched all over, probably ended up in the laundry. Haven't thought about it in years.

We wore white uniforms back then (dresses! With white STOCKINGS*) so a pin really looked nice.

Now and for years since, I don't dress formally enough to wear one if I had one.

*But no hats. And the dresses didn't last long either.

elkpark · Feb 12, 2015

I wear mine (from my original diploma school, and from my grad school) every day. People frequently comment and ask me about them. But that's an old tradition, and I notice most of the newer nurses don't.

AdobeRN · Feb 12, 2015

I purchased one and only wore it for the pinning ceremony. My mom then took it along with my diploma, tassle and lamp and made a shadow box for the items. They are now hanging in our spare room we use as the "office".

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2015

I have my school pin and STT pin on a gold necklace using a pin converter like this one.

middleagednurse · Feb 12, 2015

I bought a pin when I graduated, and I wore it proudly. But somewhere along the way it disappeared. I wish I had another one, but I probably wouldn't wear it since no one does anymore. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone wear a nursing pin.