The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) freshman class recently participated in a White Coat Ceremony, created to foster a commitment to patient care among students new to the nursing profession. The ceremony included reciting an oath to uphold the values of nursing, and a white coat cloaking – a symbol of their commitment to the healthcare profession. Slated to graduate in the fall of 2018, these students heard from several prominent nurses including Shirley Brekken, Executive Director for the Minnesota Board of Nursing, Katheren Koehn, Executive Director of the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses (MNORN), and Dr. Elizabeth Markham, System Senior Dean for Nursing for Herzing University.
In 2014, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) joined forces to help fund white coat ceremonies nationally to promote patient-centered care among future generations of registered nurses. Herzing University’s Minneapolis BSN program was among only 60 programs nationwide in 2015, and the only program in Minnesota, to receive funding for hosting the white coat ceremony. Though such ceremonies have been conducted by medical schools for more than 20 years, it’s relatively new to nursing.
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