LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) instated its first Clinical Coat Ceremony for freshmen Traditional Nursing students. This new tradition was established to commemorate their beginning steps in the nursing profession. Students were honored at a ceremony on Aug. 26 at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church. Students and their families were invited to celebrate as they were donned their clinical coats.
BHCLR places immense value on students and their educational experience. The Clinical Coat Ceremony affirms the school’s commitment to producing leaders in health care.
As students start their clinical rotations, this ceremony displays the journey ahead of them in school. Held at the beginning of a student’s nursing career and before they start clinical, the program honors the hard work, dedication and sacrifices they will make over the next 18 months. Students received an embroidered gray scrub coat with the School of Nursing patch to wear while at clinical.
Candice Palmer, MSN, RN, RNC-NIC, PMC-NE, BHCLR nursing faculty, led the efforts in bringing this new tradition to BHCLR.
“I am thrilled we had the opportunity to start this tradition at the College,” Palmer said. “The atmosphere was filled with pride and anticipation, and it was heartening to see our students embrace this important tradition with such enthusiasm and commitment.”
Baptist Health Foundation provided financial support to ensure BHCLR nursing students could have this opportunity to celebrate their educational journey. The Foundation is committed to improving the health and lives of Arkansans by producing committed caregivers to cultivate and build the health care workforce in the state.
“Baptist Health Foundation is grateful to work alongside BHCLR in these efforts to create a meaningful student experience,” Cyndi Gregory, Foundation senior major gifts officer, said. “We want our future health care workers to know we believe in their hard work and we desire to see them walk across the stage at graduation.”
To make a donation to the Clinical Coat Program fund, visit https://bit.ly/bhcollegedonation. To learn more about giving opportunities at BHCLR, contact Gregory at cynthia.gregory@baptist-health.org or at (501) 202-1119.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.
