West Virginia Wesleyan’s School of Nursing recently welcomed 23 sophomores into the nursing program with a White Coat Ceremony held in Wesley Chapel on campus.
White Coat Ceremonies have been conducted since 1993 within the medical profession but are relatively new to nursing. In 2014, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing formed a partnership with The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to introduce this rite of passage to nursing schools, recognizing the need for all healthcare team members to commit to providing compassionate care.
Dr. Kimberly White, Director of the WVWC School of Nursing, said, “It is a great honor to present our nursing students with their white coats, a symbol of their responsibilities as healthcare providers as they affirm their commitment to providing humanistic, patient-centered care as they begin caring for those in clinical settings. In addition, we also perform the Blessing of the Hands ritual that serves as a powerful reminder of the sacred trust placed in the hands of nurses.”
Graci Ketterman, of Buckhannon, said, “I was very excited to receive my white coat, it meant to me that I was starting my journey to becoming a nurse.”
Regarding future plans, she stated, “A goal of mine would be to continue my education after nursing school into obtaining my master’s degree in nursing.”
Also receiving their white coats during the ceremony were Riley Amos of Glenville; Laci Armes of Dublin, Virginia; Gracey Arnold of Rockmart, Georgia; Corey Baugh of Coral Springs, Florida; Kailey Garofalo of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Ana Haught of Bridgeport; Elexus Heckert of Jane Lew; Aiden Holbert of Charleston; Patricia Kelley of Philippi; Marisa Lauffer of Mount Airy, Maryland; Harley Linger of Buckhannon; Isabel McCloy of Simpson; Mallory McGinnis of Scott Depot, Virginia; Sydney McKinney of Dublin, Ohio; Benjamin Meyer of Morgantown; Dalaynie Myers of Albright; Lindsay Neel of Craigsville; Chloe Saltis of Flemington; Emily Stewart of Richmond, Ohio; Malayla Tompkins of Buckhannon; Francine Ugsang of Lost Creek; and Addison Walker of Gerrardstown.
