Allow Guests At Our Pinning Ceremony
Allow Guests At Our Pinning Ceremony
The Issue
We are nearing the end of our final semester of nursing school, and as such, we are very close to our pinning ceremony. Pinning ceremonies date back to the 12th century when knights who helped the sick were given a cross to wear. Today, pinning ceremonies are tied closely to the ceremony when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George by Queen Victoria as recognition for her service in the Crimean War in the 1860’s. Pinning ceremonies today are a way to welcome nursing students into the nursing profession. It not only celebrates the completion of our degree but honors the commitment we are making to serve those in need of help. Our pinning ceremony is equivalent to a white coat ceremony for many other majors in the medical field.
Currently, we (the students) are not allowed guests at our pinning ceremony. For many, if not all of us, this is more important than the graduation ceremony itself. The college is holding a graduation ceremony for all students of all the programs next May but since we are finished in less than 2 weeks, we will likely be working as RN's by the time we would be able to walk the stage. Our nursing convocation is also being held online and is to be held online for all future semesters due to convenience. This makes pinning the absolute only time we can have our families with us to celebrate this big accomplishment.
Nursing school is tough and for many of us, we have had a support person or system that has gotten us through. Not being able to have any guests allowed there with us is devastating and we want it changed. Despite appealing to our dean and assistant dean, we have been unable to get anywhere in terms of having our support systems there with us on this very important achievement.
We were even told that if we found a bigger location to hold our ceremony, we would not be allowed to, under any circumstances, have family members there to celebrate with us. With mask restrictions lifted on campus and other events being held on campus, there is no logical reason we should not be allowed guests.
-AACC Nursing, Class of Fall 2022
The Issue
We are nearing the end of our final semester of nursing school, and as such, we are very close to our pinning ceremony. Pinning ceremonies date back to the 12th century when knights who helped the sick were given a cross to wear. Today, pinning ceremonies are tied closely to the ceremony when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George by Queen Victoria as recognition for her service in the Crimean War in the 1860’s. Pinning ceremonies today are a way to welcome nursing students into the nursing profession. It not only celebrates the completion of our degree but honors the commitment we are making to serve those in need of help. Our pinning ceremony is equivalent to a white coat ceremony for many other majors in the medical field.
Currently, we (the students) are not allowed guests at our pinning ceremony. For many, if not all of us, this is more important than the graduation ceremony itself. The college is holding a graduation ceremony for all students of all the programs next May but since we are finished in less than 2 weeks, we will likely be working as RN's by the time we would be able to walk the stage. Our nursing convocation is also being held online and is to be held online for all future semesters due to convenience. This makes pinning the absolute only time we can have our families with us to celebrate this big accomplishment.
Nursing school is tough and for many of us, we have had a support person or system that has gotten us through. Not being able to have any guests allowed there with us is devastating and we want it changed. Despite appealing to our dean and assistant dean, we have been unable to get anywhere in terms of having our support systems there with us on this very important achievement.
We were even told that if we found a bigger location to hold our ceremony, we would not be allowed to, under any circumstances, have family members there to celebrate with us. With mask restrictions lifted on campus and other events being held on campus, there is no logical reason we should not be allowed guests.
-AACC Nursing, Class of Fall 2022
Victory
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Petition created on December 4, 2022