by Jenise Rebholz

Bradley University’s Department of Nursing held their 2nd annual White Coat Ceremony, both an honor for those sophomore students and the department. Find out how and why Bradley’s nursing program received the funding from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Bradley University hosts 2nd annual White Coat Ceremony

PEORIA – This past Friday, Bradley University’s Department of Nursing hosted their White Coat Ceremony to honor and acknowledge sophomore nursing students.

The White Coat Ceremony ultimately pledges the young men and woman of the program into the profession of nursing as they begin applying their scientific knowledge in the clinical practice. This ceremonial entrance into the clinical portion of their education features the students reciting oath, the cloaking of White Coats and the presentation of their Lapel pins.

“Your clinical practice will challenge you to think… to apply.. and to act. The way you act in clinical practice sets you apart as a Bradley nurse,” said department Associate Chair, Dr. Molly Cluskey, during her speech at the ceremony.

The ability for college nursing program’s to host a White Coat Ceremony is an honor itself, as well. Bradley’s nursing department was only one of 100 in the nation to receive the funds to do so.

“I’m thankful we as nursing students get this ceremony and recognition,” said Junior nursing student, Erin Gilliatt as she reflected on her ceremony last year. “Our instructors make us work hard and it’s exciting to prove what we know, finally, when we go to the hospital.” Gilliatt attended the event to support the sophomore class.

According to the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the White Coat Ceremony was established originally in 1993 as a way to welcome medical students into the practice of medicine. In 2014, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, AACN, partnered with the Gold Foundation to implement the pilot program for colleges of nursing.

Just shortly after the event, Bradley’s nursing department announced on Facebook that all 78 graduates of their nursing Class of 2015 passed the NCLEX exam on the first attempt. With a 100 percent pass rate at Bradley, compared to Illinois’ overall 68 percent, it only makes sense that they were chosen to receive the funds necessary for the White Coat Ceremony.

“I’m just really excited to meet the patients. Right now it’s a lot of working with mannequins, I’m just excited to work with patients,” explained Sandra Medrano, a sophomore nursing student.

While these students still have a long way to until graduation, all 83 White Coat recipients had a contagious smile. The White Coat Ceremony was well-deserved by both students and the department as a whole.

Class of 2018, courtesy of Bradley University Department of Nursing