Pinning ceremony question

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

the pinning ceremony is "dated" because its a tradition since the beginning of formal nursing. i like the ritual aspect of the pinning ceremony, and although i do not have anyone who would be interested in watching my ceremony, i do feel that it will connect me with the tradition of nursing and honor Florence Nightengale and so many others who made this a profession worth being proud of.

this is an excerpt from a pinning cerremony speech that i found that gives some background.....

"The tradition of the nursing pin and the ceremonial pinning originated in the 1860's at the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Having been recently awarded The Red Cross of St. George for her selfless service to the injured and dying in the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale chose to extend the honor to her most outstanding graduate nurses by presenting each of them with a medal for excellence.

It was the Wolverton Royal Hospital School in England that initiated the tradition of presenting all graduates with a badge. The first pin was awarded to the graduating class of 1880 of the Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York City. The pin presented to each of the graduates was both beautiful and symbolic. It featured a crane in the center for vigilance, encircled with a band of blue for constancy, and an outer band of red for mercy and relief of suffering. Dr. Opas reports that by 1916 the practice of pinning new nursing graduates was common in schools throughout the United Kingdom and North America.

For some, both within the nursing profession and the public, view the pinning ceremony as an outdated ritual. Some schools have already abandoned the pinning ceremony, and many others are considering doing so. But I, like so many of my colleagues, perceive this lovely tradition as a very meaningful and important rite-of-passage into the profession of nursing.

The nursing pin has been both literally and symbolically a cross to bear, a medal and a badge. And the pins of today still to me represent each of these precursors. Nursing is a cross to bear for those of us who remain with the patient long after others have given up hope and gone home. Nurses never forget about their patients; even when they are not caring for them physically, they remain in their thoughts. Remembering always that they are caring for someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son or daughter, and that these people are counting on them to do for their loved one what they themselves cannot do. And there are those times when, in spite of all of our technology and care, that a patient does not survive and we must admit defeat and yield to death. At times this emotional burden truly seems unbearable, but we understand it is part of both the pain and the privilege of being a nurse.

The nursing pin remains a symbolic medal of honor. Nurses honor both the miracle of life and the finality of death. They respect and honor an individual's right to enter into life safely and to die with dignity. They also honor their patient's right to continue or refuse medical care even when they personally disagree with the decision.

The nursing pin is also a badge of courage. Nurses are courageous in caring for those patients that would otherwise be ignored or exiled by society. This courage was recently exemplified by a brave team of doctors and nurses caring for a pregnant woman and her unborn child at Wesley Medical Center. The woman is both HIV and Hepatitis C positive and had received no treatment at the time of her admission to the labor and delivery unit. After a thorough evaluation, it was decided that it was medically necessary that she be delivered by Cesarean section. The medical and nursing staff armed themselves as well as possible and courageously stepped up to the field. Tragically, the scrub nurse was accidentally cur on the arm with the surgical blade during the procedure. She remained calm and maintained her composure while in the patient's presence, but broke down outside the surgical suite. She understands the grave implications this incident will have on her life but is determined to remain dedicated to her job, her patients and to the nursing profession. Everyday nurses do battle on the front lines, fighting death and disease, but do so with courage and commitment. Contaminated needles are but just one of the many bullets they must dodge in carrying out their duties on a daily basis. They, like so many other professionals in public service, put their own lives in peril to save the life of another.

The pinning ceremony is, therefore, so much more than an event to mark the completion of nursing school. It is a beautiful rite-of-passage into the profession and, as Dr. Opas writes, "a reminder to all of us of nursing's well-founded historic promise to serve the infirmed."

dosamigos76, RN · Jul 23, 2003

Geekgolightly-

Absolutely awesome! Thanks for posting this.

Cheryl

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

Well I have to tell you that our pinning ceremony was a major letdown.

We were not "allowed" to have anyone other than the student participate in the ceremony. For some reason, the instructors did not want outsiders there. Many students voiced their opinion, but they were all shot down. We only graduated 15-20, so it is not like we are talking a big crowd here.

So, anyway, our ceremony was held at 1:00 pm on a workday. They did not pin us, instead handed us our pins in a box, provided we had ordered a pin. They then named those who were inducted into the honor society, those who had finished in the top of their class, and so on.

After having a piece of cheesecake they so thoughtfully provided, it was over. We did get to take photos if we wanted to. I was done in time to pick the kids up from school!

Our graduation ceremony was held the next day and was a major celebration. It held much more meaning than the pinning. Did I want candles and the Nightengale pledge? Maybe, maybe not, but I did want the chance to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.

I felt cheated!

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

MomNRN i think you were cheated. that sucks. im sorry.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2003

Originally posted by dosamigos76
Geekgolightly-
Absolutely awesome! Thanks for posting this.
Cheryl

You're welcome! I thought it was an interesting read.

CVnurse08 · Jul 24, 2003

Not to "hijack" the thread or anything, but where was everyones pinning ceremony held ?? What sort of building ?? Was it at your school or what ?? Just curious. Thanks so much.

justjenn · Jul 24, 2003

The candles, cappings and other stuff is tradition. And I know that LOTS of people on this forum want to get over the Florence Nightingale thing because it is so dated. But I love history. And people should remember it.

Why do we have champange on New Years, turkey on Thanksgiving, throw hats in the air at graduation? You were lucky to have a degree & gone through the motions of graduation, but others have not. As I am an older student going back to school, I am looking forward to my graduation (God willing). And, I just found out that we in LPN, get to do the candle/lantern thing.

It may seem corny to you, but this might be all the others will ever have & it may be important to them. If you do not go, you may be hurting others. You may be an inspiration or pillar of support to someone else & you don't know it. AND, you may regret it later. Who knows. Just think about it.

Justjenn

nekhismom · Jul 24, 2003

We will graduate in Dec., so we will not have a graduation ceremony. If we want to walk in the graduation, we have to wait until the following May. Therefore, the pinning is basically our graduation. I plan to attend and invite every single one of my friends, family and anyone else who will come. Nursing school has been hard: physically, mentally and emotionally. I am definately going to celebrate and enjoy my pinning, even if the ceremony is a little outdated.

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Jul 24, 2003

I am in the beginning of a two year ADN program, but I know that at the end, I want all the ceremony I can get - cheesy or not. I am not a "traditional" student and it has taken me a long time to get to nursing school and by the time I finnish, I will want all the pats on the back I can get.

soogirl · Feb 5, 2004

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks the pinning ceremony is outdated - I will be graduating in May 04 but will not be attending the pinning ceremony - I refuse to dress up like a Barbie doll nurse in a short white dress with cap - and I don't want to light any candles, show slides of myself, have my instructors read a little passage I write to thank everyone, and eat a cake that's too sweet with too much icing - I'll see everyone at the ceremony the next day.

There are 16 graduating but only 10 attending the pinning ceremony - 'cause it's not our style. Too bad faculty won't let me attend in my business suit - much more professional than a white dress -

hxs181 · Mar 19, 2005

We will graduate in Dec., so we will not have a graduation ceremony. If we want to walk in the graduation, we have to wait until the following May. Therefore, the pinning is basically our graduation. I plan to attend and invite every single one of my friends, family and anyone else who will come. Nursing school has been hard: physically, mentally and emotionally. I am definately going to celebrate and enjoy my pinning, even if the ceremony is a little outdated.

I have 8 guys in my grauduating class. the men are more into the ceremony then i would of thought, but they all plan to attend and have even suggested having our school's name on the candles. its just a celebration of our hard work. and i have to graduations, one from college in nursing and the pinning ceremony.

kizmwah · Mar 19, 2005

pinning ceremony is an event for us to be recognized as new nurses. a time for us to we awarded for being a full pledged nurse finally. and a time to party and enjoy with classmates who will be returning to their respective places after. for me, our pinning ceremony was a wonderful event! but...i know some school, they had their pinning ceremony before their graduation...meaning before they passed the local board exam...this for me is so so not GOOD. Personally, i don't want my pin at this time because i don't deserve it yet. Am i right? :)