Pinning ceremony held for WVU School of Nursing Bridgeport students

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia University’s School of Nursing campus in Bridgeport held its first pinning ceremony on Thursday as it recognized its first graduates from the campus in Harrison County.

The ceremony took place at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in downtown Clarksburg and celebrated each graduate’s completion of the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at United Hospital Center. For the graduates, the pinning recognizes the time the students have spent dedicating to their coursework , clinical, and the completion of their degree.

“They’re the first person to speak up for the patient, they’re with the patient more than everyone else. So, they are the eyes, the ears, and the voice for patients. So, we need more nurses in our workforce to be those eyes, ears, and voices for our patients,” WVU School of Nursing Bridgeport Campus Chairperson Veronica Gallo said.

WVU School of Nursing officials said that the rigorous, 18-month program is now available for students to apply to if they want to become registered nurses. Training that students receive throughout the course prepares them for community health, public health and management.

“COVID really did hit our workforce hard. Nurses who had been practicing nurses for years, after COVID they were exhausted, they were really pushed to their limit,” Gallo said. “So, it’s important for us to have these fresh faces, these fresh minds come in and bring that passion and joy for helping others.”

Fifteen graduates were able to be pinned Thursday night and recited the Florence Nightingale pledge before the playing of John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads.

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