‘Emblematic transition into nursing profession’ symbolizes commitment to compassionate care

Dean Danny Willis and the faculty of the URI College of Nursing welcomed the Class of 2028 into the nursing profession during the annual White Coat Ceremony Tuesday morning in Edwards Auditorium.

URI President Marc Parlange, and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe joined the faculty and staff in congratulating the second-year students for beginning their journey as health care professionals. Sophomore year is when most nursing students officially transition into their major and begin working with patients during clinical rotations at medical facilities throughout Rhode Island.

The White Coat Ceremony, originally established by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation at Columbia University in 1993 to emphasize humanism and professionalism in health care, began with medical students, expanding to nursing programs in 2014. An “emblematic transition into the nursing profession,” the ceremony symbolizes the nurse’s commitment to compassionate care and the important role they play in the healthcare team.

After crossing the Edwards Auditorium stage to receive their white coats—which symbolize the demarcation between students’ pre-clinical course work and the phase of their education where they will now be caring for patients—the students recited a pledge to uphold the ethics and principles of the nursing profession, which reads:

“As a nurse dedicated to providing the highest quality care and service, I solemnly pledge that I will:

• Consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns;
• Act in a compassionate and trustworthy manner in all aspects of my care;
• Apply my knowledge, experience and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients;
• Exercise sound professional judgment while abiding by legal and ethical requirements;
• Accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence;
• Promote, advocate for and strive to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient.

With this pledge, I accept the duties and responsibilities that embody the nursing profession. I take this oath voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”

The URI College of Nursing undergraduate program is ranked among the nation’s best, soaring into the top 8 percent of nursing colleges in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings. The College’s B.S. in Nursing program is tied at number 54 among 686 ranked colleges in the country. The College has made an impressive rise in the rankings, climbing from number 96 just three years ago.

The advancements the College has made are obvious not only in the undergraduate programs, but in its graduate offerings as well. The master’s degree program, already among the best in the country, has been ranked in the top 50 in the U.S. for the second year in a row. The College’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is also recognized among the nation’s best, slotting in at 66. Visit the URI College of Nursing Academics website for more information on all its graduate and undergrad offerings.