How to Ask Someone to Pin You for Your Nursing Ceremony
Completing nursing school is a remarkable achievement that deserves to be celebrated.
The nursing pinning ceremony is one of the most anticipated traditions for new nursing graduates.
This special event signifies your official entry into the profession.
As you plan for this milestone, one of your responsibilities will be to designate someone important to “pin” you at the ceremony.
With numerous family members, friends, mentors, and colleagues who have supported you throughout your journey, choosing the right person can be a daunting task.
This guide will provide you with the necessary information to consider while selecting your pinner, as well as some tips to make the experience more meaningful and unforgettable.
What is a Nursing Pinning Ceremony?
In case you’re unfamiliar, a pinning ceremony is a longstanding nursing school tradition.
At this event, you’ll receive your nursing pin, take a nursing pledge, and be honored for successfully completing your nursing education.
Unlike graduation, where your whole class is recognized, the focus is specifically on welcoming the new nurses.
The pinning ceremony celebrates your commitment to compassionate, ethical, and expert patient care.
It also enables you to reflect on all you’ve learned as you transition from student to professional registered nurse.
Nursing pins vary in design but often incorporate symbolic elements related to nursing.
During the pinning, your selected pinner will attach the pin to your uniform.
This emotionally charged moment formally marks your entry into the nursing community.
The pinning ceremony is a time you’ll surely remember for the rest of your nursing career.
Why the Pinning Ceremony is Important
After all your years of intense education and clinical training, pinning provides a singular opportunity to commemorate your nursing school graduation.
The ceremony allows you to stop amidst all the chaos and reflect on the knowledge you’ve gained and the healthcare experiences you’ve had.
You’ll likely feel a mix of nostalgia for nursing school, pride in your accomplishments, and eager anticipation about using your skills to help patients.
The pinning ceremony also enables you to honor the family, friends, mentors, colleagues and role models who aided your journey.
Though you did the hard work to complete your nursing degree, you had a village of support behind you.
This event celebrates your personal milestone and the community who helped you get there.
Finally, pinning serves as a bridge from nursing student to professional nurse. The ceremony provides closure to the student chapter and welcomes your new identity as a nurse.
Who Can Pin You in the Ceremony?
When considering who to select as your pinner, there are many meaningful options to reflect on.
Think about which individual has most inspired your nursing path or who you want to honor for the support they gave you throughout school.
Here are some possibilities:
1. Family Members
Your parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse or children have all experienced your nursing school journey with you.
They saw the late nights studying, cheered you through the ups and downs, and supported you in practical ways like making meals or helping with childcare.
Choosing a close family member recognizes the sacrifices they made to help you achieve this dream.
2. Fellow Graduating Nurses
Your classmates know firsthand the challenges of nursing school since they lived it alongside you.
You may have formed close bonds while commiserating over exams, sharing clinical stories, or quizzing each other.
Selecting a fellow graduate is a nice way to highlight your shared experiences and teamwork to reach this milestone together.
3. Nursing Mentors
Perhaps a faculty advisor guided your personal growth in the nursing program.
Or maybe a preceptor from clinical rotations taught you invaluable nursing skills at the bedside.
Your manager from a healthcare job may have inspired your passion for nursing. These mentors directly influenced your education and practice.
Asking them to pin you recognizes their pivotal role in shaping you into the nurse you’re becoming.
How to Ask Someone to Be Your Pinner
Once you’ve reflected deeply about who you would be honored to have pin you, here are some tips for how to ask:
Make the Invitation Thoughtful
First, consider asking them in a meaningful way if possible.
Having a face-to-face conversation or hand-writing a card lends more weight to the occasion rather than a quick text or email.
Let them know why you want them to play this special role in your pinning ceremony.
Share what they’ve meant to your nursing education and how they’ve impacted you.
Small tokens like nursing-themed baked goods or a framed photo of you two makes the request more personal.
Example of What You Could Say When You’re Asking Someone to Pin You.
“Mrs. Smith, I wanted to personally ask if you would consider being the person that pins me for my upcoming nursing pinning ceremony. Over the past few years, you have been an incredible source of guidance, wisdom, and encouragement throughout my journey to becoming a nurse. I vividly remember our conversations at ______________, when you shared your wealth of knowledge and passion for nursing that inspired me to pursue this career. I also appreciate how you mentored me through _____________________, patiently teaching me practical skills _________________ and showing me the art of compassionate care. You have played such an integral role in shaping me into the nurse I am today. I can think of no one I would be more honored to have pin me at the ceremony as I follow in your footsteps of exceptional nursing practice. Your support has meant the world to me, and I hope you will consider serving as my pinner as I embark on my nursing career.”
Provide Logistical Details
Give them key information like the date, time, and location. This allows them to check for potential conflicts with their schedule.
Since schedules get busy, give several weeks notice at minimum. Let me say this again so I make sure you don’t miss this. Give advanced notice, do NOT wait until the last minute.
For out-of-town pinners, discuss logistics like travel and lodging costs. Share details about the ceremony, such as attire, length, and rituals.
The more prepared they are, the more relaxed and engaged they’ll be during the event.
Just Ask!
Most people would be honored to be asked because even though it’s a ceremony for you, in a way, it also kind of honors them for the positive impact they’ve had on your journey.
-NursingStudent.org
Even if it may be nerve-wracking to ask someone to pin you, it’s worth it.
Even if you don’t use the script I wrote above, just ask. Worst case scenario, they might have some kind of conflict, but it’s unlikely they would flat out refuse.
Most people would be honored to be asked because even though it’s a ceremony for you, in a way, it also kind of honors them for the positive impact they’ve had on your journey.
