News Byte: Future Nurses Receive White Coats

During a ceremony on October 19, the nursing program’s Class of 2024 received their white coats. The Nursing White Coat Ceremony signifies the transition from classroom learning to clinical learning and represents a formal welcome into the nursing profession. The event is held during the fall semester of junior year before students begin their first clinical experience in health facilities.

Thirty-one students were coated at this year’s milestone event, which took place in Riland Auditorium. Words of encouragement and congratulations were offered by Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Interim Provost Jerry Balentine, D.O., School of Health Professions Dean Gordon Schmidt, Ph.D., and Chair of the Department of Nursing Lisa Sparacino, Ph.D.

Rear Admiral Aisha K. Mix, DNPR, assistant surgeon general and chief nurse officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, delivered the keynote address.

In addition, nursing alumni Maggie Thibault (B.S. ’22) and Sonymir Pedrosa (B.S. ’16) shared remarks.

New York Tech’s B.S. in Nursing focuses on training students to provide transcultural nursing, team-based care, and community-based nursing practices—preparing them for the realities of nursing in the 21st century. Faculty members are highly experienced professionals who have vast educational, clinical, and leadership experience, and are committed to teaching, advising, and mentoring students to foster academic and professional success. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

The Class of 2024 received their white coats during a ceremony on October 19.