Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Pins Record-Breaking Number of Graduates

The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing celebrated the pinning of the largest number of students in the school’s 108-year history on Sunday, August 5. A total of 370 graduates were comprised of 276 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students, 12 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, and 11 advanced practice nurses who received Post-Master’s Certificates. An additional 71 students were unable to attend the ceremonies.

Pinning ceremonies are a treasured tradition in nursing and each nursing school has its own distinctive pin to identify its graduates. According to Vanderbilt Nursing Dean Linda D. Norman, DSN, FAAN, and Valere Potter Menefee Professor in Nursing, pinning ceremonies can be traced back to the crusades with modern significance beginning with Florence Nightingale who presented medals of excellence to her nursing graduates.

MSN students received the VUSN pin signifying their entrance to the advanced practice nursing profession, DNP students received lavaliers to attach to their nursing school pins, and post-master’s students received certificates denoting the completion of their specialty education beyond the master’s degree level.

Vanderbilt Nursing’s pinning ceremonies also awarded two students: Kristina Holmes with the Amy Frances Brown Prize for Excellence in Writing, and Anna Sizemore with the VUSN Alumni Association Award for Student Excellence in Service and Leadership to School and Community. Nine faculty members were also honored during the ceremonies with Sara K. Archer Awards for outstanding contributions to student learning.

To learn more about Vanderbilt Nursing’s pinning ceremonies for nursing graduates, visit here.

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Christina Morgan

Assistant Editor at Daily Nurse

Christina Morgan is the Assistant Editor for DailyNurse.com.

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