Nearly 300 Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) students were recognized for completing their programs of study during a pinning ceremony held Sunday at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville.
Professional pins of Nursing were awarded to 267 students who completed their Master of Science in Nursing, pin guards were presented to eight students who finished their Doctor of Nursing Practice courses and certificates of completion were given to 15 post-master’s students. More than 2,000 friends and family members filled the Omni’s Broadway Ballroom.
“The faculty, staff and your colleagues at the School of Nursing have supported you throughout your educational journey, and now you are prepared for the tripartite mission of care, advocacy and leadership,” Linda Norman, DSN, R.N., Valere Potter Menefee Professor of Nursing and dean of VUSN. “You will change the future of health care.”
Vanderbilt’s Master’s nursing program begins and ends in August. The pinning ceremony formally recognizes those who earn a Master of the Science of Nursing, as entry into advanced practice nursing; a post-master’s certificate, recognizing a specialty in addition to having already earned an MSN; and a DNP, as the terminal practice degree in the profession of nursing. Those who participated in the pinning ceremony were also encouraged to return to campus for Vanderbilt’s official commencement in spring 2016.
he professional pin harkens back to legendary nurse Florence Nightingale and her work in the Crimean War, and is a symbol of completion of a nursing program of study. In 1916, the nursing pin became a standard way of recognizing excellence in nursing. Each nursing school around the world awards its own specially designed pin to recognize achievements in nursing education. VUSN’s pin features Cornelius Vanderbilt, the founder of the University.
During the ceremony, each of the school’s program directors presented an award for the outstanding student in each specialty area:
• Kirsten Dauterive — Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program
• Sarah Holmgren — Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program
• Emily Woods — Family Nurse Practitioner Program
• Elizabeth Bronson — Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
• Katie Nivens — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Program
• Rishi Mistry — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program
• Victoria Christmas — Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Family) Program
• Ruth Ozug — Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program
Other awards included the Amy Frances Brown prize for excellence in writing, given to Kelly DeWyer, and the VUSN alumni award, given to Lisa Baldwin.
Several faculty members were also honored for outstanding contributions to teaching and scholarliness as determined by students: Susie Adams, Ph.D., R.N.; Angel Anthamatten, DNP; Kristen Barry, MSN; Susan Beaird, DNP, MSN; Amy Hull, MSN; Cathy Ivory, Ph.D., R.N.; Jennifer Kim, DNP; Patti Scott, DNP, APN; and Megan Shifrin, MSN, R.N.
