Beckley Campus sophomore nursing students pledge commitment to their profession

West Virginia University School of Nursing Beckley Campus sophomores took the next step toward their nursing careers Oct. 20 during their Pledge Ceremony.

Held at the Calvary Assembly of God in Beckley, the Pledge Ceremony is a commitment to demonstrate and respect the moral principles of the nursing profession. Specifically, the WVU School of Nursing Pledge speaks to integrity, compassion, ethics, patient advocacy and lifelong learning.

Hannah Ramsey said to her, the ceremony is a very important milestone. She said it symbolizes the entry into the field of nursing as she and her peers enter the clinical phase of their curriculum.

“The ceremony honors the dedication, hard work and persistence of myself and each of my peers,” Ramsey said. “Nurses are seen as the most trusted in healthcare, so this also gives us the chance to fulfill this idea, by taking oath into the profession in front of our family, friends, and instructors.”

Ramsey said she chose nursing because she loves to care for people.

“Everyone needs someone, but not everyone has someone. As a nurse, I will be able to achieve my goal in life, which is making sure all people feel loved, cared for, and advocated for.”

For Karsyn Walker, the ceremony is also a huge milestone.

“This ceremony, to me, means celebrating hard work and commitment to learning, the nursing profession and our patients,” Walker said. “I never felt peace with anything until I decided to pursue nursing. My mom is an amazing nurse, who shows me every day what a nurse is supposed to be.”

Like Walker, Colby Atkins said his mom is also a nurse. He was drawn to the profession while caring for his mom when she fractured her ankle and was unable to walk for three months.

He said, “To me, the White Coat Ceremony means the professional beginning of pledging to be the most knowledgeable, caring and respectful nurse you can be.”