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Nursing Department Receives ‘White Coat’ Funding

August 04, 2016

Angelo State University’s Department of Nursing is one of only 50 nursing schools nationwide selected to receive funding support from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation to host a “White Coat Ceremony” for nursing students during the upcoming fall 2016 semester.

White Coat Ceremonies are designed to emphasize the importance of providing compassionate care among health care professionals. They typically consist of the recitation of an oath, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception where students receive a specially designed pin that serves as a visual reminder of their commitment to quality care. 

“White Coat Ceremonies highlight the important role compassion plays in providing patient-centered care and improving health outcomes,” said Dr. Juliann Sebastian, chair of the AACN Board of Directors. “With health care becoming more inter-professional and team-driven, nurses, physicians and other providers must embed humanism in their practice as a way to elevate the patient care experience.”  

The collaborative effort between AACN and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation was launched in 2013 to promote humanistic, patient-centered care among future generations of registered nurses. This year, 50 nursing schools were selected to receive funding, and ASU was one of only two Texas schools chosen, along with Texas Woman’s University. The complete list of selected schools is available on the AACN website. 

According to Dr. Wrennah Gabbert, chair of the ASU Department of Nursing, tentative plans are to host the White Coat Ceremony during the first fall 2016 meeting of the ASU Nursing Honor Society.