The Northern Oklahoma College Division of Nursing held its Fall White Coat Ceremony and Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society induction Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Montgomery Hall at NOC Enid.
Students receiving white coats included BreAnna Allen, Ponca City; Sonia Allen, Ponca City; Dena Arita, Ponca City; Crystal Backus (Oakes), Ponca City; Cadence Berkenbile, Enid; Ryleigh Bertschy, Fort Worth, Texas; Emma Blenden, Denton, Texas; Anna Bracken, Waukomis; Savannah Brown, Enid; Brooklynn Davis, Enid; Kaylee Gibson, Ponca City; Bridget Graham, Ralston; Rachael Grammer, Longdale; Clayton Harrison, Shady Point; McCage Hartling, Enid; Elizabeth Hopkins, Stillwater; Chelsea Humphrey, Stillwater; Kayla Hunt, Cushing; Vanessa Kerr, Lucien; Savanna Larson, Stillwater; Angela Lee, Eucha; Rita Lopez-Ramirez, Enid; Storm Million, Enid; Nevaeh Mock, Enid; Ashley Myers, Enid; Rebecca Napier, Antlers; Molly Oder, Braman; Oluwaseun Owolabi, Fairview; Bryton Paker, Tonkawa; Sophia Rogers, Stillwater; Jadyn Rother, Okarche; Ashlyn Schenck, Stillwater; Holli Smith, Ponca City; Katherine Stewart, Stillwater; Ruby Valles Pando, Meno; and Audrey White, Perry.
The first White Coat Ceremony was created by Dr. Arnold P. Gold in 1993 to emphasize human caring in the practice of medicine. The ceremony has since expanded to other health care disciplines, including nursing.
During the ceremony, students receive their white coats and recite the Division of Nursing Professionalism Pledge, acknowledging the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care. The ceremony symbolizes the responsibility of future nurses to provide compassionate, evidence-based care throughout their careers.
“The white coat ceremony recognizes the students’ willingness to begin a journey that requires courage, dedication, humility and compassion,” said NOC Nursing Division Chair Dr. Vickie Crouch.
“The white coat represents the beginning of the students’ professional identity. They are no longer just simply learners, they are the next generation of nurses who will make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and the communities that they will serve,” she added.
NOC Nursing Instructor Elaine Briggs addressed the students, emphasizing the responsibilities that come with wearing the white coat.
“This is a celebration but also an initiation,” Briggs said. “By slipping on these coats today, you are stepping out of the classroom and onto hospital floors to care for real human lives.”
Briggs reminded students that their nursing journey will include challenges, difficult exams and the responsibilities of patient care.
“The nursing faculty can guide you and support you but no longer protect you,” she said. “It’s important that you struggle a little to push through those hard days. The learning comes from the struggle and your strength will come from that struggle.”
“You will learn to trust the process,” Briggs added. “There will be times when the uniform gets dirty and that means you are in the process. It means you are learning to be a nurse in the most beautiful way.”
Northern Oklahoma College is home to the Theta Omicron chapter of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing’s Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society.
Students are invited to provisional membership after successfully completing the first semester of the nursing program, earning a minimum grade of B in every nursing class and demonstrating high standards of professional behavior.
Full membership is granted during the final semester to students who have maintained high academic standards and demonstrated integrity and professionalism on campus and in clinical settings.
Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society inductees included Kristen Andrade, Enid; Alexis Babot, Newkirk; Megan Holt, Kremlin; Hailee Jackson, Poolville, Texas; Elayna Lancaster, Stillwater; Kirsten Maly, Enid; Daniella Rios-Ramirez, Dover; Isidoro Rojo Fuentes, Fairmont; Saira Rojo Fuentes, Enid; Megan Snyder, Ponca City; Emilie Thompson, Enid; Shaylyn Vogele, Kellyville; and Adrienne Young, Enid.
“Northern Nursing is proud to partner with the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society. Alpha Delta Nu members demonstrate a commitment to advancing their knowledge, embracing evidence-based practice, and contributing to the nursing profession,” Crouch said.
“Their achievement reflects not only the countless hours spent studying and developing clinical skills, but also the determination to grow into safe, compassionate, and professional nurses.”
