Kent State University College of Nursing recently made history during its fall 2024 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) White Coat ceremony by inviting a recent alumna as the guest speaker for the first time. Grace Titus, BSN ’22, a medical-surgical nurse at University Hospitals Geauga, perfectly embodied the values of compassion and dedication that define the nursing profession. In addressing the 120 BSN students entering their second semester of the professional nursing sequence, she not only shared her own experiences, but she also inspired them with a vision of the vibrant future that awaits them as they embark on their nursing journeys.
Titus’ remarks helped to bridge the gap between academic aspirations and real-world experiences through her personal anecdotes.
“I know it can feel intimidating to walk into a patient’s room for the first time or do a skill you’ve only ever practiced on a manikin, but my first piece of advice is to embrace it. Jump in and be eager to learn. Be the first to volunteer, especially if you’ve never done it before. At this point in your life, you are in charge of your own learning; it is up to you what you take away from your clinical experiences,” said Titus. “I believe you all walked into nursing school possessing the compassion and empathy that is required to be a nurse, so now it is time to learn the science and technical skills that are also required to be a safe and competent nurse.”
She went on to share about her grandfather’s recent hospitalization and the impact that situation had on her as a nurse whose loved one was now the patient. Titus explained that as nurses it can be easy to get caught up in the routine of the work and stop seeing the patients as individuals who are counting on nurses to care for them during their most vulnerable times. Sitting with her grandfather in the hospital and listening to his perspective of his experience gave Titus the ability to know and understand what it is like to be on the other side.
“I went back to work [after that weekend] with a renewed attitude. I found myself slowing down, spending more time with each patient and not only making sure they were physically taken care of, but also felt as comfortable as they could be in the hospital,” said Titus. “That experience with my grandfather helped me see my patients as the people they are, not the diagnosis they came in with.”
The White Coat Ceremony is the oldest, and most well-known, program of the Gold Foundation. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993 at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons to emphasize humanism in medicine at the very start of medical education.
In 2014, recognizing the vital role nurses play in the healthcare team, the Gold Foundation partnered with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to adapt the ceremony for nursing. Kent State held its inaugural nursing White Coat ceremony in spring 2023.
While it may take different forms, this rite of passage ceremony emphasizes the importance of humanistic patient care, defined as compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent healthcare, early in nursing training and professional identity formation. The white coat itself embodies the values and commitments that define the nursing profession.
“[It] is more than just a piece of clothing you wear with your uniform. Think of it as the symbol of the nursing profession on your back. You will be wearing the responsibility, trust, and dedication to your patients every time you put it on,” said Titus. “Let it be a reminder to you how far you’ve come and how much you have yet to learn.”
Titus decided to attend Kent State University College of Nursing after a campus visit left her with an unmistakable sense of belonging. One of her favorite aspects of the BSN program was the camaraderie among professors who genuinely cared about their students' success, as well as the lifelong friendships she formed during her time there. After graduating, Titus took a position as a med-surg nurse, eager to hone her skills and work closely with the geriatric patient population.