WITC-New Richmond holds nursing pinning ceremony

(1/4/11): Recently 16 Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-New Richmond nursing students and their six instructors planned and attended their pinning ceremony. The pinning ceremony for a nurse is the equivalent to the commencement ceremony for other students.

The group included: Vickie Jones (New Richmond), Jennifer Johnston (New Richmond), Toni Albert (Howard Grove), Tashia Parizek (Baldwin), Nicole Surratt (Zimmerman, Minn.), Priscilla Hornung (Barron), Jamie Frank (Hudson), Josh Boss (Ft. Pierce, SD), Heather Cress (Glenwood City), Priscilla Erickson (New Richmond), Julie Thill (Hudson), Arlene Gregerson (New Richmond), with Jill Wofford (Osceola) hidden behind her, Amy Johns (Osceola) and Kahlyn Cotter (Osceola). Not pictured are student Stephanie Green (New Richmond) and WITC nursing instructors Bonnie Howe, Karen Engesether, Sara Traylor, Christine Oberle, Ginny Johansen and Jean Roedl.

The Pinning Ceremony is a traditional nursing event that dates back to the Crusades, and Florence Nightingale perpetuated the concept, using a badge. Later, pins became more common and nurses wore them on their nursing caps. Today, pins are often worn on a nurse’s collar or even on their employment ID badge, now that caps have fallen to the wayside as part of the uniform.

Each nursing school has its own design, including WITC, and the special ceremony is a way for the graduating nursing students to celebrate their success in earning their pins. Each year, graduating WITC nursing students plan their own program, which includes a description of the pin and its significance, as well as reflections by the nursing faculty about each student.