University Of North Alabama's Anderson College Of Nursing To Host White Coat Ceremony
Sep. 01, 2017
Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033
By Bryan Rachal
University Communications
FLORENCE, Ala.-The University of North Alabama Anderson College of Nursing was one of two schools in Alabama to receive funding to host a White Coat ceremony.
TheArnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF)and theAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)announced that 50 schools of nursing across the nation were selected to receive funding to host White Coat ceremonies.
"This will be are our first White Coat ceremony," said Dr. Vicki Pierce, dean of the Anderson College of Nursing. "The grant is from our accrediting body and it is nice to be recognized," she said.
According to Clarissa Hall, UNA assistant professor of Nursing, a White Coat ceremony for nurses is a formal ceremony for those entering into nursing school to ignite enthusiasm for patient centered care, while instilling a greater respectfor the nursing profession.
"It is a symbolic passing of the torch to the future of nursing and welcomes students into the nursing program," said Hall. "The Gold-AACN White Coat Ceremony for Nursing project was made possible with a grant from the Arnold p. Gold Foundation to support the Gold-AACN White Coat Ceremony for Nursing," she said.
In nursing, a White Coat ceremony typically consists of the recitation of an oath, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception for students and invited guests. Students also are given a specially designed pin that serves as a visual reminder of their oath and commitment to providinghigh qualitycare.
Though medical schools have conducted White Coat ceremonies for more than 20 years, the APGF-AACN initiative marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at nursing schools.
UNA's Anderson College of Nursing and Spring HillUniversity were the only Alabama schools to make the list.
TheAnderson College of Nursing Gold-AACN White Coat ceremony for Nursing will take place Sept. 29, 2017.The Speaker will be announced at a later date.
For more information about UNA's Anderson College of Nursing:https://www.una.edu/nursing/
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programsthrough the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business,Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing.Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. UNA also operates arenownedcollegiate athletic program in NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference.The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin.