Written by: David Brown November 20, 2015 Dean Marsha H. Adams welcomed 115 new fall 2015 nursing students during the inaugural White-Coat Ceremony. First semester upper division students at the CON marked the beginning of their professional journey with a White Coat Ceremony held on November 4, 2015 at 3:00 PM in Chan Auditorium. The event is the first ceremony of its kind held by the CON. Overall, 115 students in the BSN program received white coats embroidered with the UAH logo and College of Nursing during the ceremony to symbolize their commitment to the profession and to providing compassionate care. After receiving their coats, students recited an oath in which they committed themselves to providing quality safe patient-centered care in interprofessional teams.The event was emceed by Dr. Karen Frith, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, and a keynote address was presented by Dr. Marsha Howell Adams, Dean of the College of Nursing. Assisting with the donning of the white coats and pinning were Melissa Baginski, Mary Bonilla, Anne Dilliard, and Dr. Beth Barnby. A reception for the honored students and guests followed the ceremony. The CON is one of 60 nursing schools selected to receive funding from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to hold a White Coat Ceremony for fall 2015. The foundation, which has sponsored white coat ceremonies at medical schools since 1993, partnered with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to extend the opportunity to nursing schools. By supporting ceremonies at nursing schools, the foundation is hoping to symbolically demonstrate the value of all members of the health care team.The ceremony was designed by pediatric oncologist, Arnold Gold, who called the white coat a “cloak of compassion.” It is meant to welcome new students into their chosen health care profession and to establish an expectation that students demonstrate compassion as well as scientific proficiency in delivering medical care. “The faculty, staff, and students are honored to have our College selected as one of the 60 Schools of Nursing across the country to participate in the second round of nursing white coat ceremonies supported by the Gold Foundation and AACN ,” said Dean and Professor Marsha Howell Adams PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN. “The white coat is a cloak reflecting the UAH CON core values of integrity, inspiration, caring, excellence, and wellness”. Thanks are extended to Laura Mann, Janiece Smith, Melonie Drewyor, Charles Davis, and Lisa Thomas for their hard work to make the first White Coat Ceremony a success! About the Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF): As a growing, international not-for-profit organization we have a critical mission: to optimize the experience and outcomes of health care for both patients and practitioners by promoting care that is as humanistic as it is technologically sophisticated. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation works with physicians and nurses in training and in practice, as well as other members of the healthcare team, to instill a culture of respect, dignity and compassion for both patients and professionals. When skilled practitioners build caring, trusting and collaborative relationships with patients, studies reveal more appropriate medical decisions, better patient adherence with treatment plans, and less costly healthcare outcomes.
