Student Feature: First Class of Nursing Graduates

First nursing graduating class: Anna Enfield ('18), Jennifer Humphrey ('18), Abby Kane ('18) and Krista Petersen ('18)

On Thursday, May 3, 2018, Concordia honored its first graduating class of nursing students at the inaugural Ceremony of Pinning. The ceremony consists of four parts: Pinning Ceremony, Lighting of the Candles, Nightingale Pledge and Blessing of the Hands.

Pinning Ceremony

Each graduate receives their pin from a faculty member and a family member. 

In the 1860's at the Nightingale School of Nursing in London, Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her service to the sick and dying during the Crimean War. Florence Nightingale extended this honor to her nursing students as a medal of excellence. The nursing pinning ceremony remains a time-honored tradition in nursing schools.

Lighting of the Candles

When the nursing pinning ceremony was initiated in the 1860's, the lamp was a symbol of the care and devotion that the nurse administers to the sick and injured. Florence Nightingale helped wounded soldiers at night by candlelight. The lighting of the candles from the Nightingale lamp during this ceremony represents the passing of the flame of knowledge to each new nurse. 

Nightingale Pledge

The Nightingale Pledge is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath. It was presented in 1893 at the Farrand Training School for Nurses in Detroit using inspiration from Florence Nightingale's philosophy of nursing. It is a tradition for nursing students to recite the pledge while holding the flame of knowledge as they transition into the role of the
professional nurse:

“I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in
confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”

Blessing of the Hands

The graduates also receive a blessing of the hands, celebrated with a Gospel reading of Luke 5:12-18: "God of mercy and goodness, Your Son brought healing… who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."

The graduates come forward for the blessing of the hands; each extends both hands, palms up. With a small dab of oil on the thumb, the person offering the blessing makes the sign of the cross on each palm while saying:

(Name), I anoint your hands in the name of God the Father who created and sustains the world; in the name of the Son who healed the sick and gave up His life for the redemption of all people; and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who calls us by the Gospel to faith in Christ and service to the world. May these hands bring comfort and healing to those they touch, to the honor and glory of God.

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