EGCC Pinning Ceremony Marks Milestone For Nurses

In a ceremony that’s been done for centuries, more than a dozen nurses obtained pins marking their entrance to the registered nursing profession.

Robin Snider Flohr, dean of health for Eastern Gateway Community College, said the ceremony has taken place since Florence Nightingale founded nursing education by starting her schools.

Administrators said 10 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) earned their pins on May 18 by obtaining their degrees in registered nursing. To complete the RN program, they needed to earn 47 additional credits in nursing and science classes.

“Pinning is a symbolic welcome to the profession that started in the 12^th century when knights were honored with the Maltese Cross for caring for injured soldiers and when Queen Victoria presented a pin to Florence Nightingale for her work in the Crimean War,” Flohr said of the ceremony’s history.

The ceremony was held at EGCC’s Jefferson County campus in Steubenville. The LPN to RN transition students were the first graduating class at the Steubenville campus.

Flohr added that many recipients earned their RN degree while already working full-time jobs. She said the graduates successfully took the next step in their careers by earning their associate degree in registered nursing.

Photo:

LPN to RN transition students, who are the first graduating class at the Steubenville campus. Pictured from left to right are: Associate professor and LPN to RN assistant program director, Dr. Dana M. Meadows, Samantha Anderson, Kelly Gaspard, Jessica Bracone, Gina Capaldi, Megan Roupe, Aubrey McGee, Karrie Kinest, Jonni Ritchie, Professor Judy Hince. (Graduates not pictured: Gina Pierro and Jamie Starkey)