Time-honored nursing ceremonies recognize graduating seniors, new sophomore nursing students

Marking the step from student to professional for the 94 students graduating next month, Liberty University’s School of Nursing (LUSON) held this semester’s pinning ceremony on Saturday evening, Nov. 7, at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

A nursing school tradition that possibly dates back as far back as the early 1900s, a pinning ceremony serves as a time when soon-to-be nurses are recognized for their hard work in their training and are given a pin unique to their school that will identify them as a graduate of their respective program in their future workplace.

“It’s not actually graduation, it’s more of an intimate opportunity for us to welcome them to the profession of nursing,” LUSON Dean Shanna Akers said. “We offer a challenge to them by encouraging them to take what they’ve learned here at Liberty about holistic nursing care — caring for the person in their body, mind, and spirit — and be a light unto the world as Christ’s hands and feet.

“We remind our students that every moment is an open door (for sharing Christ), not only for today and tomorrow, but potentially for eternity,” she added.

All 94 students are completing Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure program.

In previous years, the pinning ceremony has been combined with a dedication ceremony for sophomores entering the program, marking the first time they wear their uniforms, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused the two ceremonies to be separated this semester. To allow for proper social distancing practices, the group of roughly 170 students being dedicated this semester attended one of two events on Friday (8 a.m. and 1 p.m.).

“We’re welcoming the sophomores to the nursing school and challenging them to be students with ethics, integrity, and the work ethic they’ll need to be successful, and we’re also reminding them to offer spiritual care to patients because we are dedicating their practice to the Lord,” Akers said.”

Students participating in the pinning ceremony were allowed to invite a few loved ones to attend, and the pinning ceremony and both dedications were livestreamed on LUSON’s Facebook page.