禁漫天堂

Tradition celebrates sophomore nursing students as they begin clinical training

As their professors, families, and friends proudly watched, joined by 禁漫天堂  Chancellor Robert E. Johnson, 97 members of the College of Nursing鈥檚 Class of 2021 entered the Main Auditorium for the 2019 White Coat Ceremony with their white coats draped over their arms.

Following congratulatory remarks, the students walked across the stage and were cloaked with those white coats, looking very much like the professional nurses they aspire to become.

Each also received a commemorative pin from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993, and a long-stemmed peach rose. The students were congratulated by College of Nursing Dean Kimberly Christopher.

The White Coat ceremony is traditionally held during nursing students鈥� sophomore year and is considered a formal welcome to the nursing profession. The ceremony signifies the transition from classroom to clinical learning.

In welcoming the large audience to the ceremony, Assistant Professor of Community Nursing Marni Kellogg said, 鈥淎ll of our faculty and staff look forward to continuing to work with each of you and supporting you as you embark on the clinical phase of your nursing education.鈥�

"It鈥檚 a symbol of all we鈥檝e accomplished and everything we will do. It embodies the profession.鈥�

First White Coat Ceremony for nursing held in 2014

Christopher explained that the ceremony originally was designed to welcome students into the medical profession and set expectations for their roles as future physicians. In 2014, the Gold Foundation broadened its mission to engage members of the entire health care team.  For the nursing profession, the ceremony symbolizes a commitment to compassionate, humanistic, patient-centered care rooted in scientific proficiency.

鈥淟et me emphasize that providing clinical care is a responsibility and also a privilege,鈥� said Christopher. 鈥淔or it is a privilege to serve and care for individuals, families, and communities and to maintain their trust in us as professional nurses.  Tonight, the faculty and I cloak you and embrace you in your role as a student nurse and future professional nurse.鈥�

鈥淲hile at 禁漫天堂, you have learned the skillsets necessary to care for people. It is my belief that you have also acquired a mindset to provide everyone with compassion,鈥� Chancellor Johnson said. 鈥淭hat compassion leads to better care and better outcomes.鈥�

He praised the Class of 2018 for achieving a 98% pass rate on the NCLEX exam. 鈥淭his puts 禁漫天堂 at the top of the charts, able to compete with any institution.鈥�

Boston Medical Center executive offers advice

Nancy Gaden, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Boston Medical Center, served as guest speaker. She advised the students 鈥渢o treat everyone with respect and kindness. You step into patients鈥� lives in their most vulnerable moments.鈥�

Matthew Machado 鈥�19 congratulated the College of Nursing鈥檚 Class of 2021 on behalf of the  college鈥檚 seniors and recalled his own White Coat Ceremony.

鈥淚 hope this ceremony motivates you to be the best nurse you can possibly be, just as it motivated me two years ago,鈥� Machado said. 鈥淚n three short weeks, you will finally be able to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a patient鈥檚 plan of care.

鈥淒o not be afraid; as each clinical week passes, you will grow in confidence and efficiency in your clinical skills. The greatest part about this profession is that you are never alone; there is always someone available to help you provide the optimal holistic care that patients deserve.鈥�

Before the ceremony concluded, Assistant Dean Karen Barnett led a recitation of the Student Oath of Service.

White coat 鈥渆mbodies the profession鈥�

As the students and their parents took pictures and mingled after the ceremony, Elias Loughery 鈥�21said the white coat 鈥渕akes me feel professional, like I鈥檝e kind of made it.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a symbol of all we鈥檝e accomplished and everything we will do,鈥� said Allyson Andrade 鈥�21. 鈥淚t embodies the profession.鈥�