Key Takeaways
A nurse pinning ceremony is a tradition that ushers nursing students into the nursing profession.
Graduation ceremonies confer academic degrees, but nurse pinning ceremonies welcome students into the field.
To become registered nurses (RNs), individuals need to pass a national exam and obtain state licensure.
In 2026, the U.S. boasted more than 5.1 million registered nurses (RNs), according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Each of these nurses has chosen to enter a noble profession and use their expertise to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
To gain the expertise needed to become RNs, individuals can complete either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Upon finishing their degree program, nursing students can participate in a unique tradition known as a nurse pinning ceremony, a special event that ushers nursing students into the nursing profession.
For example, after completing their education at Denver College of Nursing, in addition to attending a graduation ceremony, nursing students will attend a pinning ceremony. This time-honored tradition is different from a formal graduation ceremony, and many nurses say it is even more meaningful.
What Is the Pinning Ceremony for Nurses?
Knowing what a pinning ceremony for nurses is can help in understanding its importance. A pinning ceremony signifies that a nursing student is prepared to join the sisterhood and brotherhood of nurses and serve society as a healthcare professional. Nursing has often been referred to as a calling, and the modern pinning ceremony is based on the history of this respected profession.
Nursing students can invite their families and friends to attend the ceremony, during which they receive their nursing pin. The pin is usually given by a faculty member from the nursing school or someone of special significance to the nursing student. In fact, many nursing students choose to dedicate their pins to a special person, and, in such a case, a dedication the nursing student has written about the relationship may be read.
Nurse pinning ceremonies often include the lighting of candles or lamps to symbolize the nighttime care that Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, gave to wounded soldiers by candlelight.
History of the Nurse Pinning Ceremony
The history of the pinning ceremony dates back to the 12th century, when Crusaders were cared for by the Knights of the Order of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist. When new monks entered the order, they vowed to serve the sick soldiers in a ceremony during which each monk was given a Maltese cross badge.
The modern ceremony started in the 1880s, when Queen Victoria began awarding nurses the Royal Red Cross to recognize their service as military nurses. Florence Nightingale was among the first recipients of the award for her service during the Crimean War. To recognize the honor, the Nightingale school of nursing later presented medals of excellence and graduation badges to its nursing students.
By the 1910s, the pinning ceremony had become standard practice for new nursing school graduates in the U.S. as a way of welcoming them into the nursing profession. While it was once only given to outstanding students, today it includes all students who successfully complete their nursing education.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony vs. Graduation
Comparing a nursing pinning ceremony vs. a graduation ceremony can be helpful for prospective nursing students. While the pinning ceremony is an initiation into the nursing profession, a graduation ceremony is the time when higher education institutions officially confer nursing degrees to program graduates. Therefore, students can view a nurse pinning ceremony as a celebration of new nurses entering the field and a graduation ceremony as a recognition of the completion of academic requirements.
Neither the nurse pinning ceremony nor the graduation ceremony signifies that a nursing student has officially become an RN. To become an RN, an individual must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) offered by NCSBN.
Aspiring registered nurses also need to obtain state RN licensure from their state boards of nursing. For example, an individual who wants to become an RN in Texas would need to obtain a license from the Texas Board of Nursing, and a graduate of an RN program in Denver who wants to work as an RN in Colorado would need to obtain licensure from the Colorado Board of Nursing.
The Nightingale Pledge
One of the most meaningful elements of a nurse pinning ceremony is nursing students’ recitation of the Nightingale Pledge:
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and as a ‘missioner of health’ I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.
Earning a Nursing Degree Prepares Students for Meaningful Careers
The nurse pinning ceremony is a special way to recognize the hard work it takes to complete a nursing education. It is also a wonderful way to welcome aspiring nurses as they enter a profession in which they have the opportunity to help others improve their lives.
If you are interested in becoming a nurse, explore Denver College of Nursing’s ADN and BSN programs to learn how they can help you achieve your career goals. Providing students with the coursework and clinical experiences they will need to enter careers in nursing, these programs prepare students for fulfilling careers in a great profession.
Start your journey toward reaching your career ambitions in nursing today.
Recommended Readings
ADN vs. BSN: Comparing the Nursing Degrees
Different Types of Nursing: Exploring Nurse Careers
How Long Does It Take to Get a Nursing Degree?
