Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) recently held their second in-person White Coat Ceremony in the Rotunda of Guerin Hall. Felicia Stewart, DNP, FNP-C, RN-BC and FNP program director, welcomed the Class of 2023 and their friends and families that had gathered. She explained that the ceremony is a rite of passage for the SMWC students to accept the responsibility of delivering compassionate patient care. “We are assembled today to mark a very important moment in time for these nurses: the very start of their nurse practitioner clinical experiences.”
Each student stepped forward and was presented with their white coat. The students that participated in the ceremony were:
- Jamie Shotts, RN
- Amber Sager-Grindle, RN
- Tammy Walker, RN
As the students proudly wore their newly earned white coats, Crystal White, DNP, FNP-C, RN and assistant professor of nursing spoke to the group and blessed their hands. “Throughout the Old and New Testament of the Holy Scriptures, there are examples of blessings being spoken over individuals who were chosen for special work and purpose. Often, these were individuals called by God to fulfill a certain role at a specific time in history in a specific place,” White said.
The students’ hands were anointed with oil as White said to each student, “I anoint your hands in the name of the Father who created, loves and sustains you, the Son who redeems you and the Holy Spirit who empowers you. May these hands bring comfort and healing to those they touch, to the honor and glory of God.”
The ceremony concluded with students taking the Florence Nightingale Pledge that included, “With wisdom and compassion, I endeavor to be a ‘missioner of health’ in devoted service to promoting wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.”