View Larger Image
A student dons her white coat during the College of Nursing ceremony.
Image by Bryan Clifton
College of Nursing Holds White Coat Ceremony to Celebrate Students’ Next Step
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing held a white coat ceremony to welcome more than 100 nursing students to the clinical phase of their education.
The Oct. 4 ceremony, held at the First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock, honored students in the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Patricia Cowan, Ph.D., RN, dean of the College of Nursing, said the white coats offer a reminder of the aspiring nurses’ obligation to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to all people.
“Nurses form the backbone of the health care system, serving a critical role in every type of clinical setting,” she said. “Most of us will receive assistance from a nurse at many points throughout our lives, and nearly all of us will see a nurse care for someone we love.”
College of Nursing students recite the Nightingale Pledge, which affirms their dedication to maintaining professional standards and promoting the health and happiness of their patients.Image by Bryan Clifton
Fermin Renteria, DNP, APRN, assistant professor in the College of Nursing and director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, commended the students for their hard work and for the progress they’ve made since the start of the academic year.
“Their dedication has shown through late nights, lots of study and time away from family and friends,” he said.
The white coat ceremony recognizes the students’ readiness to take the next step in their academic journey. After weeks of skills and simulation activities, they are poised to begin caring for patients in clinical settings, Renteria said.
Students donned 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, clinical assistant professor and director of the college’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, closed the ceremony with remarks about the importance of self-confidence, which she described as a trait the students will have to develop as they proceed through their education and their careers.
The color of the coats might conjure an image of perfection, but it doesn’t reflect the challenges and moments of doubt the students will experience along the way, she said. Love encouraged them to view these moments as markers of their personal growth.
“It’s not about having the answers or getting it right every time; it’s about trusting yourself enough to navigate through it despite your doubt,” she said. “I want you to think of these white coats as a reflection of the trust and belief that you are going to build in yourself every day moving forward.”