Keynote speaker Jane H. White, Ph.D., addressed the 140 undergraduate and graduate students who were coated at the 2017 white coat ceremony.
Addressing the 140 undergraduate and graduate students who were coated at the February 5, 2017 ceremony, keynote speaker Jane H. White, Ph.D., the College鈥檚 associate dean for research, said that the three million registered nurses in the United States today represent the most trusted profession.
鈥淭he annual Gallup Poll surveying the public鈥檚 view of various professions rates nursing as the most trusted profession because of our high standards and ethics,鈥� she noted.
Borrowing a phrase used to describe American astronauts in the 1960s, Dr. White asked, 鈥淲hat is 鈥榯he right stuff?鈥� What does it take to be a nurse?鈥� She said those ingredients are heart, soul, mind and body.
鈥淭o be a nurse requires the heart鈥� empathy, compassion鈥攖he soul鈥攁 moral compass pointing toward integrity and ethical decision making鈥攁nd the mind鈥� the science鈥攑racticing from evidence, with expertise, experience and oftentimes with a nurse鈥檚 intuition,鈥� Dr. White explained.
As for the body, she said, 鈥淪ustaining the 鈥榬ight stuff鈥� will mean a constant awareness of your own health. Right now you are, hopefully, beginning to adjust to the rigor required,鈥� she told the students. 鈥淩emember to be balanced鈥攈ave fun, eat right, sleep enough. Learn and practice those health and balancing skills now,鈥� she added, since an unbalanced self can also have a negative impact on one鈥檚 patients.
A smaller ceremony for accelerated B.S. in Nursing students took place in May 2017.
A total of 145 students participated in another White Coat event, spread across two days鈥擲eptember 7 and September 8, 2016.
At the inaugural ceremony in October 2015, Patrick R. Coonan 鈥�78, Ed.D., dean, explained, 鈥淲hite Coat Ceremonies in the medical profession mark the transition from regular study into the clinical component of a student鈥檚 education. We want our students to understand compassion, caring and empathy.鈥�
The 2015 event marked the start of what is becoming an honorable tradition, due to funding by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and American Association of Colleges of Nursing. White Coat Ceremonies signify an important new stage in learning and emphasize students鈥� commitment to high-quality patient care.
For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu