Stafford, Willington Students Among First In Eastern Nursing Program

WILLIMANTIC, CT — Stafford and Willington residents were among Eastern's first cohort of nursing students that was honored at the university's inaugural "white coat ceremony" on Jan. 23 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall.

A right of passage for nursing students across the world, the ceremony marks the beginning of students' clinical education and their commitment to compassionate patient care. During Eastern's ceremony, 28 students donned their white coats and received a "Keeping Healthcare Human" pin from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation - whose namesake established the ceremony in 1993.

Among the students recognized were:

• Ashley Hornung, a junior from Stafford.
• Grace Smith, a sophomore from Willington.
• Megan Worthington, a junior from Stafford.

The ceremony consisted of a professional oath, witnessed by family, friends, clinical partners, and members of the Eastern community. The students then received their white coats, which will be worn at the nursing pinning ceremony as students conclude their nursing education at Eastern prior to graduation.

"Compassion is the cornerstone of our profession," registered nurse Ashley Cote said during her keynote speech. "You're about to embark on a profession that is challenging as it is rewarding and complex as it is beautiful.

Cote works as a nurse manager at Generations Family Center Health. During her speech, she highlighted the importance of the oath and of human connection in nursing. She recalled a memorable experience during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was one of those shift where every patient needed me at every moment," she said.

But one particular interaction stood out: a disheartened patient's simple request to take a shower, which, due to her condition, she was unable to do. Cote empathized with the patient and spent the next 10 minutes that she "really didn't have" cleaning the patient's hair.

"I don't remember much about the rest of that shift," Cote said, "But I will never forget her smile as she ran her fingers through her clean hair. What truly defines us as nurses," she said, is "connecting with the human behind the diagnosis. Healing not just the body, but also the mind and spirit."

The ceremony featured remarks from several dignitaries, including Eastern President Karim Ismaili.

"This event has launched a significant milestone in the journey of our nursing
students and the history of our institution," he said, commending the students for beginning a tradition that "emphasizes the heart of health care: compassion, dedication and human connection."

Ismaili also noted that Gallup Polls consistently rank nursing among the most publicly trusted professions.

"You're doing something so noble, powerful and impactful," said Terrence Cheng, chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system. He praised the students for entering a field that is vitally important to the state of Connecticut and society at large. "Over the course of your career, you're going to help thousands of people. You're going to make thousands of lives better," he told the students.

Eastern's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program launched in the fall of 2023, made possible by a major grant from the Connecticut Health Horizons project. The program was created to address the ongoing nursing shortage and helped establish the Department of Health Science and Nursing.

Assistant Chair Amy Bataille noted that the department's two programs have a "symbiotic" relationship.

"They work in unison to provide diverse opportunities to Eastern students," she said.

Lindsay Boucher, Eastern's nursing program clinical coordinator, was instrumental in bringing the white coat ceremony to Eastern's new program.

"This ceremony is a symbolic and momentous occasion for nursing students as they begin their clinical journey in the nursing profession," Boucher said. "This ceremony will infuse the process of beginning to form their professional nursing identity woven with the essential threads of the human connection and caring part of nursing."

Commenting the students' oath to ethics and empathy, Cote said, "These qualities are not just a nicety, they're a necessity. Patients may forget the details of the treatment, but they won't forget how you made them feel when they needed it most."