Belmont College conducts pinning ceremony for new nursing program graduates

Recent graduates of the practical nursing program at Belmont College received their pins in a time-honored ceremony. While the ceremony looked different than it has in the past, Belmont College officials believed it was important to observe the tradition even amidst the restrictions brought about by COVID-19, particularly because most of these graduates will join other nurses on the frontlines of battling the pandemic.

The Pinning Ceremony, held at Belmont College's Dover Hall, was conducted one student at a time. Graduates entered the hall with family members, all wearing facemasks and maintaining protocols of social distancing, and received their Belmont College School of Nursing commemorative pin. In a release from Belmont College, Director of Nursing Programs Karolyn Fox explained the origins of the pinning tradition, "Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing and her efforts to formalize nursing education led her to establish the first scientifically based nursing school in 1860. The origination of the nursing pinning dates back to when Nightingale began presenting pins as awards for nursing excellence. Today the pinning ceremony is a rite of passage for nursing graduates as they are welcomed into the profession of nursing by their faculty members."

Graduates of the Belmont College nursing programs are finishing with either an associate's degree in nursing or a certificate in practical nursing. Belmont College President Dr. Paul Gasparro spoke of the relationship between the college and the local healthcare system, "These students now have the opportunity to pursue a challenging and fulfilling profession. In many ways, nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system as they play a critical role in delivering skilled and compassionate care. Now, more than ever, we have seen the difference they make and the critical roles they play as frontline workers."