white coat ceremonies

[shortcake15]

just wondering but do nurses in master's programs get a white coat ceremony? after seeing a lot of friends who are in med and pharm school go through these where they are officially cloaked, i was just wondering if nurses even get a white coat? or does it depend on the school you attend?

[dg05, RN]

I'm in a accelerated nursing program and after the first year, before we start our specialty portion we receive a white coat.

[elkpark]

My program did not, but we were in psych and never even considered the possibility of wearing a white coat ... I don't know about the NP and CNM students at my school, but I didn't hear anything about a ceremony happening.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Hmm, I went to a state university for my NP training and didn't have such a ceremony. I'm also thinking that since NP training programs follow nursing school traditions, then such a ritual would not be part of the NP school experience. It is also worth mentioning that the white coat has more meaning in med school than nursing school. Traditionally, med students wear short coats throughout the program. They earn the right to wear long coats when they start residency. Most NP students (and BSN students as well) wear long coats no matter.

As far as nursing school traditions, I remember a capping ceremony (only for the female students) from my undergrad/BSN from many years back and a pinning ceremony after completion of the undergrad degree when the official nursing school pin is awarded. I don't know what is current practice now since it's been so long.

[PreparationH]

i am in an entry-level masters program and we just had ours' this quarter. there's a push for it to become a tradition within the realm of nursing. depending on who you talk to, anyway.

[Christen, ANP]

We didn't have a white coat ceremony, though my husband the PA student did. This is more of a medical model tradition than a nursing one. I got my nursing pin instead. :)

[meitelbach]

Hi My Fav MECN!!!!