In a milestone event marked by cheers and tears, a simple pin was placed upon the chests of some 50 students from the University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing to mark their completion of all that was necessary to become a baccalaureate nurse. It was the start of an honored tradition at the school.

 

 

Following the example of nursing schools across the country, the UHV School of Nursing completed its first-ever Pinning Ceremony Dec. 9 in Katy.

 

The same pin presented to the nurses on that day will stay on their lapels for the rest of their professional careers to let patients know the wearers are well-trained to care for them. The pen also serves to remind the nurses of all they went through to reach the honored position in medical care they now hold.

 

Finishing nurse training isn’t like getting another degree, said Jeanette Hartshorn, UHV School of Nursing director.

 

“Nursing is getting accepted into a profession you will be a part of the rest of your life,” she said. The pinning ceremony represents a rite of passage into that life. “It was very important to honor our students this way.”

 

With their bachelor’s degrees, these nurses represent an elite group in the field of nursing, said UHV President Tim Hudson. Such leaders in the field are vital as the need for nurses continues to grow.

 

“This event is the start of a tradition we will honor for years to come, just as these graduates are the start of a tradition of nursing excellence that will honor this institution for years to come,” he said.

 

During the Pinning Ceremony, each student handed Hartshorn a simple piece of paper to read to the gathered crowd of some 200 nurses and well-wishers. Most thanked their families for their continued support and the faculty for the fine work in training the next crop of the nursing elite.

 

The pin itself was designed by the nursing students and is full of symbolic meaning, Hartshorn said. For example, the triangle and flame represent the University of Houston-Victoria. The caduceus symbol represents the medical arts and the ultimate pursuit of obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

 

Founded in 2006, the UHV School of Nursing allows registered nurses to earn their bachelor’s degrees from locations in Victoria and Sugar Land. Such accreditation allows nurses to advance their careers into supervisory or even research roles. The state of Texas has an increasing need for such individuals as it continues to grow.