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College of Nursing students recite the Nightingale Pledge.
Image by Bryan Clifton
Students Don White Coats at College of Nursing Ceremony
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing welcomed its students to the clinical phase of their education with an Oct. 3 white coat ceremony at the First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock.
College of Nursing Dean Sarah Rhoads, Ph.D., DNP, tells the students that the “white coat ceremony is a major step in your academic journey.”Bryan Clifton
The ceremony honored students from the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs. College of Nursing Dean Sarah Rhoads, Ph.D., DNP, said it’s a momentous occasion for the students, their friends and families, the college’s staff and faculty members and the future of the nursing profession.
“The white coat ceremony is a major step in your academic journey,” she told the students. “Nursing has been recognized as the United States’ most trusted profession for the past 23 years, and by donning your white coat, you’re accepting that responsibility.”
Rhoads encouraged them to think about what they can do to provide the best possible care for patients and families. But she also urged them to practice self-care, noting that a long walk or an evening spent with friends and family can help them refocus and avoid burnout.
Elizabeth Riley, DNP, APRN, director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, spoke about the sacrifices the students have made over the past several weeks, including late nights of study and skills practice.
“We’re here tonight to recognize all the hard work they’ve put in since they started in these programs,” she said.
Students don their white coats.Bryan Clifton
Students received their white coats after reciting the Nightingale Pledge, another signal of their transition to clinical practice. The pledge affirms their dedication to maintaining professional standards and promoting the health and happiness of their patients.
Albrey Love, DNP, APRN, associate professor and director of the Master of Nursing Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, concluded the ceremony by telling the students that their white coats represent not only a tradition but also a promise.
“It’s a promise to your patients, to bring skill and compassion into every encounter; a promise to this profession, to hold its values close; and a promise to yourself, to keep learning, keep growing and keep trying even when the days are hard.”
Love asked the students to always ask for help when they need it, describing it not as a show of weakness but as a sign of courage.
“It shows that you’re invested, and it shows that you’re committed to this process,” she said.