What's so great about a pinning ceremony?

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Mar 20, 2012

Nurses no longer get "capped," but the pinning ceremony is a special thing that managed to survive. Mine was really neat.

I lose everything, so I don't proudly wear my pin like I should. But the ceremony definitely was "pompish" and just a neat thing. My mom and grandma came, they were proud of me, and I remember it so well. I'm really glad that we had it, separate from the graduation with the other students.

nowim clean · Mar 20, 2012

If I was going to miss one it would not be the pinning. It brought tears to my eyes. It is only nursing students staff and your family. You will regret it if you do not go. Out is a time when you are recognized for your achievement. Trust me my family even said if they had too choose it would be pinning to go to.

pockunit, ADN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

Pinning is much more personal, since it's not the entire school's graduating class, but the nursing class only. So for mine, there will be 18 of us, probably. Each student writes a little speech and can read it or have it read, then they all go up and get pinned by whomever they choose. I'm having my kids do it since they've been through a lot and missed me a lot during school.

I'd skip graduation long before I'd skip pinning, although I briefly considered skipping both.

Cuddleswithpuddles · Mar 20, 2012

It is, well meant to be, a very meaningful celebration of your accomplishments that you can enjoy with your family, friends and fellow classmates. Schools do it differently. You are pinned as a commemoration of your graduation. Some schools will have the professors pin the student body. Some let their students choose a RN or some other meaningful person in their life to come up to the stage and pin them. The usual graduation rigmarole is there like special attire, speakers, special venue etc.

If you're not sentimental and squishy on the inside (like I am), then you won't be thrilled. It usually does not involve fireworks, circus clowns, dancing ladies and an all-you-can-eat buffet lol

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

I skipped the graduation and just went to my pinning and let me tell you, it marked the end of one journey and the start of a new one. I would not have missed it for the world. I don't think any of us had a dry eye.

Despareux · Mar 20, 2012

I just had my pinning ceremony and it was definitely meaningful. But, the best part of the ceremony, was walking out of there as a new graduate, which I could not wait for.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

I'm not very touchy feely. Do you say the Nightingale pledge?

Cuddleswithpuddles · Mar 20, 2012

Not every school does. My school chose not to because the organizers thought the bit about being of aid to the physician was too old-fashioned. We chose the International Pledge of Nursing but made it secular.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Mar 20, 2012

It's a non-optional social convention.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 20, 2012

I preferred the pinning over the graduation ceremony as the pinning was more personal and meaningful. I knew all the nursing students but had nothing in common with other students. We had a band from Beale St (Memphis) play some jazz and blues, then we had a little ceremony. Some people chose someone special to them to do the pinning, and some allowed a faculty member to do it. Afterwards we had a small reception. My family took me out for dinner and I was so tired I fell asleep waiting for the food to be served!

lovetosleep · Mar 20, 2012

I feel the same way as you, OP. I went to mine because my dad begged me to go so he could watch. In my opinion it was a waste of my time. I don't understand what the big deal is. My nursing license is what made school worthwhile, not a graduation or pinning ceremony.