Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) recently held its White Coat Ceremony in Harvey Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program Director, Crystal White, DNP, FNP-C, RN, welcomed the students and their families and friends.
“The White Coat Ceremony marks a pivotal milestone in the educational journey of our MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner students,” White said. “Having completed their foundational coursework, these students are now prepared to enter the clinical setting and begin the advanced clinical management phase of their program. This ceremony provides an opportunity to recognize their hard work and academic achievement while formally blessing and commissioning them as they transition into clinical practice as FNP students.”
Each student stepped forward and was presented with their white coat. The students who participated in the ceremony were:
Master of Science – Family Nurse Practitioner students:
* Shelby Feuquay, BSN, RN
* Teryn Garzolini, BSN, RN
* Autumn Loudermilk, BSN, RN
* Hannah Parker, BSN, RN
* Madison Randolph, BSN, RN
* Patricia Trammel, BSN, RN
Post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate student:
* Emilee Rogers, MSN, RN
“This ceremony honors and congratulates us on the hard work we’ve done to get to this point in our program,” said Trammel, of Paris, Ill., who is in the second year of the three-year nursing program. “Wearing a white coat makes the hard work look official. It shows us how close we are to being a nurse practitioner. Every recipient should be proud of themselves for achieving this milestone.”
Loudermilk added, “Receiving my white coat represents the transition into my new health care provider role. The coat is a symbol of our commitment and responsibility to help and serve others. It represents the hard work, dedication and sacrifice it has taken to get to this point, and the ceremony allows me to share this achievement with my loved ones.”
Following the presentation of their white coats, each recipient’s hands were blessed and anointed with oil by White.
The ceremony concluded with all participants reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge. The pledge states, “I solemnly pledge, before God and in the presence of this assembly, to care for others with integrity. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession. With wisdom and compassion, I endeavor to be a ‘missioner of health’ in devoted service to promoting wellness of the mind, body and spirit.”
The pledge was led by Marcia Miller, Ph.D., RN, dean of the Division of Nursing and Sciences at SMWC.
“As our Family Nurse Practitioner students don their white coats, they embrace the responsibility and privilege of caring for individuals, families, and communities,” Miller said. “This milestone reflects not only their academic achievement, but also their dedication to service, leadership, and the values that define our nursing profession. We are honored to support them as they step forward into roles that will shape the future of healthcare.”