It's no secret that becoming a nurse is no easy task. It takes a lot of hard work and endless nights. But all of that dedication pays off when it's time to gather around for the pinning ceremony to receive nursing graduation pins.
Although some might think that this ceremony is a simple pin being placed onto a graduating nurse's chest, it's actually much more than that. There is true significance behind the reasoning for the pinning ceremony and many nursing students look forward to it more than the actual graduation. Why?
Because obtaining a nursing pin is what makes the nursing students stand out from the others, and it's something that each and every one of them is proud of. And beneath the seemingly simple ceremony is tradition and history that should be treasured for the rest of time.
Continue reading to learn more about why the pinning ceremony is so important for graduating nursing students.
There is much of a tradition when it comes to the nursing pinning ceremony. You might be surprised as to how far back it dates and who it relates to. With so much history and tradition, the pinning ceremony holds much significance.
The pinning ceremony dates back to the 12th Century. Several knights lent a hand in helping wounded crusaders. And once monks entered the Knights Order, they also continued to help those crusaders who were injured.
The monks began to hold ceremonies where each one of them was presented with a Maltese Cross, which they then wore on their arm.
During the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale was known for her selfless acts of helping others. She took her work of helping the injured men in the Crimean War very seriously. And with this, she also made it a point to reward her nursing graduates with a medal of excellence.
This medal was given to those whom she believed worked the hardest. And in the 1860s, she was honored with the well-known Red Cross of St. George.
But by 1916, the United States set it as a standard to reward all graduating nurses with a pin of accomplishment and not just a select few. The pins show each graduating nurse's completion of education. These pins act as proof and identification of a true nurse.
During the pinning ceremony, nursing graduation pins are handed out to the graduating nurses, and it's a way to make every new nurse feel special. The newly graduated nurses hold this ceremony close to their hearts because of how personal and intimate it is. The students' very own teachers honor them with the pins and pin them.
The teachers also take the time to talk about each student's accomplishments throughout their nursing education, which is an emotional time for every student that has worked as hard as they have to get there. This ceremony gives graduating nurses a day all about themselves.
It's strictly nursing students, so there won't be students from other graduating programs attending. All nursing students look forward to this day because it signifies what they've worked for and who they have become.
Because completing nursing school takes so much dedication, time, and work, most students have a special loved one in their lives who they'd like to dedicate their nursing pin to.
This person is usually someone who has helped them along the way through their nursing journey. It can be anyone including a significant other, parent, or close friend.
In some cases, this person chosen for dedication will join the graduate on the stage. They then read a letter written by the graduate on why he or she chose this person to dedicate their pin to. This is another very emotional time during the ceremony and is important to both the graduate and their chosen person of dedication.
The pinning ceremony is the final step in officially initiating the recent graduate into the nursing society. The students have now taken a vow to always help those who are sick, injured, or in need of any medical attention. The pinning ceremony is the bridge between a nursing school and a nursing career.
And nursing graduation pins are the final step to take once crossing that bridge. These pins not only signify the hard work and dedication, but they are also a physical symbol of their initiation into the nursing field.
This is why continuing the nursing pin ceremony tradition is so important.
The tradition of pinning new graduates with nursing graduation pins is one that should carry on from generation to generation. It holds so much significance not only in tradition and history, but also in each nursing students' hearts as well.
It's a moment that every nursing grad looks forward to, and it's what makes them stand out from the rest of their school's programs.
Every nursing program should hold a pinning ceremony for its students. And what's even more great about the pinning ceremony is that nursing pins are completely customizable. Whether you want to stick with the traditional oil lamp design or go with something more relatable to the school or program itself, there's a pin for every school.
Click here to see all the customizable pin options available to you. Give your nursing students a moment that they'll never forget!
