Scroll Ceremony welcomes newest nursing students to profession

The Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Nursing welcomed its newest students to the nursing profession with a Scroll Ceremony on Tuesday.

Fifty-one students were recognized at the event on the TAMHSC Bryan Campus, a tradition for the college designed to acknowledge the respect, honor and dignity ascribed to a career in nursing.

Students were greeted by Sharon Wilkerson, Ph.D., RN, CNE, dean of the Texas A&M College of Nursing. Susan Yarbrough, Ph.D., RN, CNE associate dean for academic affairs, served as keynote speaker.

“Students of today will be the nursing leaders of the future,” Dr. Yarbrough said. “They are challenged to provide ethical, compassionate care and serve as role-models to others in the workplace and the community.”

Students were presented with a scroll inscribed with the Code of Ethics for Nurses from the American Nurses Association by senior mentors and acknowledged their acceptance of the code with their signature. By signing their name, students pledged to uphold the high ethical standards written in the code and serve the nursing profession with professionalism. This is the first year senior students participated in the symbolic passing down of the trusted nursing code, providing a mentorship experience for the newest students.

“We are enthusiastic to welcome these new scholars to our program with a formal ceremony of this nature,” Dr. Wilkerson said. “It is our hope that students use the values in this code not only during their time with our college, but throughout the entirety of their nursing career.