School of Nursing holds first White Coat Ceremony School of Nursing holds first White Coat Ceremony

Beginning Wichita State nursing students participated in a ground-breaking event to recognize their future role promoting patient-centered care. The School of Nursing held its first White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov.19, at Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Sixty first-semester nursing students recited and signed a modern Nightingale Pledge as a commitment to the profession.

The school is one of two schools in Kansas and one of 100 schools of nursing nationally to have been selected by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to receive funding support to pilot White Coat Ceremonies.

"The proud feeling a nursing student has the first time they don the white coat will now be elevated to publicly recognize those individuals who will dedicate their lives to serving others," said Brandy Jackson, director of the undergraduate nursing program.

The ceremonies are designed to instill a commitment to providing compassionate care among future health professionals.

"Our School of Nursing is committed to educating the next generation of nurses that rise to the high expectations of patients," said Sandra Bibb, dean of the College of Health Professions.