The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announced today that 50 schools of nursing nationwide were selected to receive funding to host White Coat/Oath Ceremonies for incoming students in the 2021-2022 academic year. Through this collaboration, the two organizations are highlighting the importance of compassionate care to nursing students early in their professional formation.
“The compassionate connection that nurses forge with their patients is the foundation of humanistic healthcare – care that all people deserve. We are delighted to join with AACN to support 50 schools of nursing in establishing this humanistic ritual and emphasizing the importance of the human connection in their future care,” said Dr. Richard I. Levin, President and CEO of the Gold Foundation.
“Quality health care is not possible without compassion,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Academic nursing is grateful to the Gold Foundation for their groundbreaking work to help all members of the healthcare team understand the importance of delivering patient-centered care.”
When nurses and other healthcare providers build caring, trusting, and collaborative relationships with patients, studies reveal a connection to better care decisions, improved patient adherence to treatment plans, and less costly healthcare outcomes. Though White Coat/Oath Ceremonies are not new in the health professions, they are relatively new to nursing. Since 2013, AACN and the Gold Foundation have worked together to implement this rite of passage in nursing, which has resulted in 410 schools of nursing in 50 states including the District of Columbia, receiving support as part of this initiative.
While these seeding grants are limited each year, all nursing schools are eligible to receive Gold lapel pins for their nursing students participating in White Coat/Oath Ceremonies. The pins include a signature Gold loop, which represents the essential bond between clinicians and patients, and serve as a reminder of their ceremony. (Schools may apply for free pins here.) The Gold Foundation also releases a free toolkit of downloadable resources each year to support all nursing schools in their White Coat/Oath Ceremony.
View a list of nursing schools selected, both below and on the AACN website, to receive funding from the Gold Foundation to offer White Coat/Oath Ceremonies in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. For more information about this program, contact AACN’s Government Affairs and Policy Coordinator Emily Turek at eturek@aacnnursing.org.
2021-2022 White Coat Ceremony/Oath funding recipients
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center College of Nursing
University of Minnesota
University of Colorado College of Nursing
Stony Brook University School of Nursing
Shenandoah University, Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing
Oak Point University
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
University of Indianapolis
Wilkes University
Christian Brothers University
King University
University of Phoenix
Baker College OWosso
Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing
Herzing University
Walsh University Byers School of Nursing
Oral Roberts University Anna Vaughn School of Nursing
Waynesburg University
Saginaw Valley State University
University of Missouri – Saint Louis
University of Wyoming
Decker School of Nursing
Eastern Illinois University
The University of Southern Mississippi
UNCC
Fitchburg State University
Western New Mexico University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Idaho State University
Minot State University
New Jersey City University
Arkansas State University
University of Alaska – Anchorage
Southern Nazarene University
Emory & Henry College
Harding University
Catawba College
Park University
Anderson University
Utica College
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Loyola University New Orleans College of Nursing and Health
Pacific Lutheran University
Mount Marty University
Union College
Union University Hendersonville
Stockton University
Bethel College
Northwestern College
Morningside College
