WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 17, 2015 — West Liberty University is marking the beginning of the academic year with a new White Coat Ceremony to welcome third year nursing students into the role of professional compassionate care.
“We congratulate our students and encourage them to rise to their greatest potential as nurses and professionals,” said Dr. Rose Kutlenios, who is the nursing program director for the College of Science. “We also are grateful for the $1,000 award from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation who is working with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to initiate White Coat Ceremonies into nursing school traditions around the country.”
Sixty nursing schools received the financial awards this year.
A total of 15 nursing students will take part in WLU’s white coat ceremony at 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Gary E. West Event Center.
Kayla Boggs, Masontown, W.Va.; Haley Bowman, Wellsburg, W.Va.; MacKenzie Davis, Valley Grove, W.Va.; Nicole Davis, Richmond, Ohio; Nicole Dempewolf, New Martinsville, W.Va.; Morgan Dowler, Anna Humphrey, Victoria Humphrey, Erika Kettler, Leah Minch, all of Wheeling; Breanna Pawlowski, Follansbee, W.Va.; Kaitlyn Smith, Chester, W.Va.; Sarah Howard, Hanna Wilson, both of Wheeling; and Kaitlyn Yost, Follansbee, W.Va.
Speakers for the ceremony include: Wheeling Hospital Nurse Manager Cara L. Gazdik and two graduates from WLU’s Class of 2014, Haygen Mowder and Larissa Ostrosky, both staff nurses at Wheeling Hospital.
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announced the monetary awards making the white coat festivities possible on Aug. 13. Launched last year, the collaboration seeks to promote humanistic, patient-centered care among future generations of registered nurses.
“A growing body of research shows that compassionate care is linked to superior patient outcomes, lower levels of provider burnout, and higher satisfaction among all members of the healthcare team,” said Dr. Richard Levin, president and CEO of the APGF. “We are delighted to join with AACN to help foster a commitment to compassionate care among nursing students at the start of their clinical education.”
Though White Coat Ceremonies have been conducted by medical schools for more than 20 years, the APGF-AACN initiative marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at schools of nursing.
Last year, 100 nursing schools in 43 states plus the District of Columbia received financial support and guidance to offer a White Coat Ceremony, which typically consists of the recitation of an oath, the cloaking of students in a white coat, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception for students and invited guests. Students also were given a specially designed pin that serves as a visual reminder of their oath and commitment to providing high quality care.
This year, 60 new nursing schools in 33 states plus the District of Columbia were selected to receive funding to inaugurate their own White Coat Ceremony in Fall 2015.
“As the healthcare provider who spends the most time with patients, nurses must embrace the need to provide compassionate care as an essential element of their professional practice,” said Dr. Eileen T. Breslin, AACN President. “With health care becoming more patient-centered and team-driven, nurses, physicians, and other providers must embed humanism in their practice as a way to elevate the patient care experience and improve care outcomes.”
WLU’s nursing program is housed in the Campbell Hall of Health Sciences and offers the accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for high school graduates and a RN-to-BSN degree program for Registered Nurses with an associate degree or diploma who are currently licensed or eligible for licensure and want to earn a bachelor’s.
For more information, please visit westliberty.edu or call the nursing department at 304.336.8108.