UToledo School of Nursing Holds a Pair of White Coat Ceremonies This Week

UToledo School of Nursing Holds a Pair of White Coat Ceremonies This Week

Nursing students at The University of Toledo took a symbolic step into their profession on Tuesday, when the School of Nursing held its first of two white coat ceremonies this week.

The tradition marks students' entry into nursing and continues this year with support from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. A total of 237 students are receiving their white coats. After two years of pre-nursing coursework on Main Campus, students spend four semesters on the Health Science Campus in the professional major, labeled BSN 1 through BSN 4.

For Tuesday's ceremony, 109 students in the second semester of the professional nursing major, known as BSN 2, were honored in Room 1000 A/B of the Collier Building on the Health Science Campus.

"The School of Nursing recognizes the importance of this rite of passage for not only the students but for their family and friends," said Dr. Kelly Phillips, department chair and chief nurse administrator for the School of Nursing.

"We have partnered for years with the Gold Foundation in providing this ceremony recognizing the value of humanism and interdisciplinary efforts in providing the best patient care," Phillips said. "The white coat serves as a symbol of this commitment."

The second ceremony, for students in the first semester of the professional major, known as BSN 1, begins at 3:30 p.m. today, Nov. 6. It is open to the public.