The Baptist Health Sciences University Nursing Division hosted its inaugural White Coat Ceremony for the class of December 2025 in the campus gym on Monday, March 4. The ceremony is a rite of passage emphasizing the importance of compassionate patient care early in nursing training and professional identity formation.
BHSU President Hampton Hopkins, Ed.D., opened the ceremony and welcomed guests. Director of Faith and Service Chaplain Karen Smith followed with an opening prayer.
Dean of Nursing Cathy Stepter introduced former president of the university and guest speaker, Betty Sue McGarvey, who stressed the significance of the ceremony as students begin learning in clinical facilities in the community. She emphasized the connection between the ceremony and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials, which outlines the educational competencies required to become a baccalaureate-prepared nurse.
Associate Dean of Nursing Cheryl Johnson-Joy presented Bethany Grantham, Senior Nursing Capstone student, and the Student Nurses Association president, as the student speaker for the event. Bethany said, “It isn’t going to be easy, but you will have those days in clinical and class where you sit there and realize that this is exactly what you want to do.”
Professor Angel Boling, Associate Dean Johnson-Joy, Professor Ivy Anderson, Professor Demetric Osborn and Professor Allyson Smith presented pins to 35 students who were cloaked in white coats.
Led by Dean Stepter, the group, holding nursing lamps, recited the Nightingale Pledge to humanistic patient care in front of their family and friends. The pledge underscores the significance of the commitment each student is making. Dean Stepter provided closing remarks and Chaplain Smith prayed for the group. A reception followed the event.
The White Coat Ceremony was initiated in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons by Dr. Arnold P. Gold, a professor and pediatric neurologist. He believed that the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. Through the nonprofit organization that he and his wife, Dr. Sandra Gold, started, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe.
In 2014, recognizing nurses’ vital role in the health care team, the Gold Foundation partnered with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to adopt a ceremony for nursing. The ceremony emphasizes the importance of humanistic patient care, defined as compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent health care, early in nursing training and professional identity formation.
The BHSU ceremony was sponsored by the Baptist University Student Nurses Association, Professor Seraphine Lambert and Associate Dean Johnson-Joy, advisors. Professor Osborn, Professor Angie Crow, Professor Donna Grisham, Professor Marilyn Dillard, Professor Smith, Professor Briyanna Evans, Jeremy Wilkes and the Senior Nursing Capstone students contributed their time to help make the event a success.
