Pinning ceremony (nursing)

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A pinning ceremony is a symbolic welcome for nurses who are about to graduate or have just graduated. It is not a full graduation, but it often marks readiness to begin professional nursing and, at some schools, to take the licensing exam.

History has roots in ancient times and legends of nursing. The practice grew from ideas like the Maltese cross given to early caregivers during the Crusades. After Florence Nightingale’s service in the Crimean War, Nightingale’s influence helped shape nursing honors. The first pinning ceremonies in the United States started at Bellevue Hospital in New York in 1880, and by 1916 the tradition was established in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In the 2010s, many U.S. nursing schools stopped holding pinning ceremonies, while others kept them or let students organize their own versions.

What happens at a pinning ceremony
- Nurses are given a nursing pin, usually by a nursing school faculty member or by someone special to the student. Sometimes the student chooses who pins them, and sometimes a faculty member pins them.
- A dedication is often read aloud, written by the student about the person who pinned them.
- The ceremony usually includes a candle- or lamp-lighting moment honoring Florence Nightingale’s lamp on the battlefield.
- A pledge is recited, such as the Nightingale Pledge, the International Council of Nurses Pledge, or a school-specific pledge.

Meaning of the pin
- The nursing pin symbolizes education and readiness to serve as a healthcare professional.
- It marks a step toward becoming a licensed nurse, though it is not a complete degree requirement by itself.
- Pins are often unique to each school, reflecting the school’s values and history.

Variations
- Each school designs its own pin, and some schools share or fund the ceremony differently.
- Pins often carry personal meaning for the student and their supporters, making the moment a personal and meaningful rite of passage.

Example
- Some schools have historically designed pins with symbols that represent qualities like vigilance, constancy, and compassion.