2008 Woodie Awards
Pinning ceremony signifies completionor nursing majors
Chelsea Growden
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: News
Seven students were honored during a pinning ceremony Saturday, Oct. 21 to signify their successful completion of the Licensed Practical Nursing program. The pinning, which is paid for by funds raised by the practical nursing student association, also has a historical aspect.
"The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage. It's moving from student to nurse," Elizabeth Wampler, nursing instructor, said. "At the pinning ceremony we talk about the history of the pin, the lamp and the uniform."
The ceremony's significance was not lost on those who were honored.
"It wasn't really that I was nervous, it was more emotional that I thought it would be," Kellie Vandervort, Lakin, Kan., said. "None of us knew what to expect since we'd never been to a pinning before."
Practical nurses and registered nurses have different responsibilities.
"The scope of practice varies. The LPN is more technically and skill based, the RN goes more into depth with the etiology and pathologies," Wampler said. "LPN is ten months from January to October, and the RN is your standard four semesters."
The practical nurse program, which had a small class this year, is seen as a progression that may change in the future.
Wampler said seven of the ten accepted into the program completed the program which for many is a stepping stone in which they use to return to school and get their registered nursing degree.
"We're looking at a bi-level program where the whole freshman year is the PN program then the sophomore year is the RN."
Vandervort said her family supported her at the ceremony and throughout the vigorous training of the program.
"It's a very tough, intense program you think you won't make it through, but it's worth it in the end," Vandervort said. "After 10 months, this day we never thought we would see, arrived."
"The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage. It's moving from student to nurse," Elizabeth Wampler, nursing instructor, said. "At the pinning ceremony we talk about the history of the pin, the lamp and the uniform."
The ceremony's significance was not lost on those who were honored.
"It wasn't really that I was nervous, it was more emotional that I thought it would be," Kellie Vandervort, Lakin, Kan., said. "None of us knew what to expect since we'd never been to a pinning before."
Practical nurses and registered nurses have different responsibilities.
"The scope of practice varies. The LPN is more technically and skill based, the RN goes more into depth with the etiology and pathologies," Wampler said. "LPN is ten months from January to October, and the RN is your standard four semesters."
The practical nurse program, which had a small class this year, is seen as a progression that may change in the future.
Wampler said seven of the ten accepted into the program completed the program which for many is a stepping stone in which they use to return to school and get their registered nursing degree.
"We're looking at a bi-level program where the whole freshman year is the PN program then the sophomore year is the RN."
Vandervort said her family supported her at the ceremony and throughout the vigorous training of the program.
"It's a very tough, intense program you think you won't make it through, but it's worth it in the end," Vandervort said. "After 10 months, this day we never thought we would see, arrived."
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