pins....what do you think?

[rach_nc_03]

I'll be graduating from my ADN program in May 2005, and need advice on our class pins. I'm the class president, and the officers get to decide what our fundraising money is spent on (we have about $1400). We're required to buy our own pins, and the cost is between $50 and $75. Maybe I'm about to be a blasphemer, but I don't see what the big deal is about the pin; it has the year our program was founded on it, not our graduating year, and i've never seen a single nurse wearing his or her class pin. we have a lot of students who are stretched financially, and I'd rather see them be able to put that money toward NCLEX-RN fees or something. We're considering subsidizing the cost of the pins (or part of the cost) with a good chunk of the money. What do you all think? And should we push the issue about being required to have them? A few students have complained to me about it.

I won't even get into the brouhaha over white dresses and caps for the ceremony.

rachel

ADN grad may 2005

'an unexamined life is not worth living'

[Audreyfay]

I purchased the pin for my ADN graduation, 9 years later for my BSN graduation, and 9 years later for my MSN graduation. Each one looks a little different. I spent the most on the MSN pin since it will be the last one I buy. I wear it on my name pin, along with one of those little chain-on security pins. Believe it or not, in 29 years of nursing and wearing my pins, I still have all three in my possession. I think the pin is nice. I've had many people comment on the shape of it, or see the stone and inquire about where I graduated from. It IS a sentimental thing. If you want it, get it. The money for your class could be divided evenly. The money could be put toward a pin, but if the person doesn't want the pin, give them the $$. After all, it is for everybody?

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

Yeah... we've been having the "pin issue" with our school too. They are almost $100, that we have to pay for (I realize that's not as much as some schools but it's still a lot). Many people cannot afford that right now and can't get any financial aid for it either, but the chair of our department is being rather rude about it and acting like the people who don't buy the fancy pin but just get a cheaper one, just don't care about becoming a nurse and graduating, and they are just not making enough effort to get that pin. It rubs me the wrong way completely. I would like to get the "real" pin and I don't mind if other people do too, but I really don't think people should be looked down on cause they can't afford it right now (this is NOT directed at any previous posters, but at the school's department chair who is being a jerk right now and has REALLY touched some nerves in the class). Is that really being a compassionate nurse?? Um, I don't think so. :stone