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3 Reasons Nurse Pinnings Tug at the Heartstrings

3 Reasons Nurse Pinnings Tug at the Heartstrings

Image: 3 Reasons Nurse Pinnings Tug at the Heartstrings

Nurse pinning ceremonies are magical events that honor the dedication, resilience and commitment of those who choose to embark on the path of nursing. Through symbols, rituals, and heartfelt celebrations, these ceremonies mark the beginning of a lifelong journey of caring and healing.

Pinnings are emotional because:

  1. "The nurse pinning is a way to commemorate accomplishments and praise those who have come on the journey students," said Katherine Stolp Keisler, said Chippewa Valley Technical College clinical director and nursing instructor. "It is the celebration of a student's career in nursing, and the promise of what is to come as a nurse."
  2. "The pinning embodies the memories of the relationships students have made with other students and faculty, and the dreams of the connections they will foster with future colleagues and patients," said Stolp Keisler.
  3. "The pinning signifies a student’s achievement of completing a challenging program and readiness to join a rewarding career in the nursing profession," said Gina Petrie, CVTC dean of nursing. "The ceremony allows for family, friends, faculty, and staff that have supported the students during their journey to celebrate the graduate’s success and commitment to ethical practice, patient-centered care, and lifelong learning."


The ceremonies usually prove to be emotional for the students and those in the audience who have supported these students through their nursing education, said Eric Johnson, CVTC nursing instructor.

"The nurse pinning ceremony is a tradition that dates back almost 1,000 years and serves as a rite of passage for the next generation of nurses," he said. "It provides an opportunity for family, friends, and loved ones to recognize the sacrifices and achievements of the nursing students who completed the CVTC nursing program successfully. For nursing instructors, each pinning ceremony brings forth feelings of joy and pride for our nursing graduates."


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