The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School presented 49 Doctor of Nursing Practice students with their white coats on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in a celebration signifying their transition into clinical practice.
Family, guests and UMass Chan faculty members were on hand to watch the second-year students receive and don their white coats and recite the Nightingale Pledge in unison in the Albert Sherman Center auditorium.
Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Nursing, dean of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and professor of nursing, reminded the future nurse practitioners of the duty they assume in wearing a white coat.
“As you put on that white coat for the very first time, it symbolizes not just a uniform, but a commitment, a responsibility and a pledge to uphold the very highest standards of care, compassion and professionalism,” Dean Vitello-Cicciu said. “It’s not just about wearing the white coat. It’s about using the white coat. The white coat is more than just a piece of clothing. It’s a powerful symbol of trust and respect.”
DNP third-year students Jennifer Konjoian, RN, and Jennifer Bugos, RN, addressed the Class of 2026 to discuss the meaning of receiving a white coat, its symbolism and history.
“This ceremony marks the beginning of your transition as nurses to the advanced practice role. It serves to commemorate the summation of clinical experience, student-led initiatives and education over the course of several years, with many champions along the way,” Bugos said.
The White Coat Ceremony was started in 1993 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to welcome students to health care practice and elevate the value of humanism as the core of health care. The ceremony has since been adopted by medical schools across the globe. In 2014, nursing schools worldwide began taking part in the ceremony.
The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing began participating in the White Coat Ceremony in 2022.
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