Nursing students get "white coats" at ceremony on Monday

Ninety-six sophomore nursing students at Youngstown State University receive their “white coats” during a ceremony 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center on the YSU campus.

“The white coat ceremony is a formal welcome into the nursing profession signifying the transition to clinical learning,” said Nancy Wagner, chair of YSU’s Department of Nursing. “Beyond nursing skills and technology, the white coat reminds our students to be kind and compassionate patient advocates.”

White coat ceremonies are typically a ritual at medical schools. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, however, has started to promote the ceremonies as nursing students transition into their clinical studies.

Students will be cloaked by nursing faculty as they take an oath to promote humanism and excellence in their nursing care.

Nursing students begin their clinical experiences this semester, caring for patients in long term care facilities and in local hospitals, including St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, St. Joseph Warren Hospital and Valley Care Northside Hospital.

Featured speaker at the event is Kathy Cook, president of Mercy Health’s St. Joseph Warren Hospital and an YSU nursing alumnus.

Also attending will be YSU Provost Martin Abraham; Joe Mosca, dean of the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services; and Nancy Wagner, chair of Nursing. Nursing faculty Mary Shortreed and Lori Fusco are chairing the ceremony faculty committee.