The first graduates of Carlow University’s second degree nursing program will be honored during a pinning ceremony on Friday, December 14, at 3 p.m. in the Gailliot Center.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | December 12, 2018 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| 412.578.2080 (fax) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
First Class of Second Degree Nursing Students Receive Their Pins on Friday
Pittsburgh, Pa. –A group of 10 Carlow University nursing students have discovered that it’s never too late to begin a career in nursing.
The students, who all have previously earned bachelor’s degrees in other majors, completed the requirements for their bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) in 15 months and will receive their pins during a ceremony on Friday, December 14, 2018, at 3 p.m., in the Gailliot Center, located on the fifth floor of University Commons on the Carlow campus. This is the first cohort of second-degree nurses to graduate from the program.
“Hospitals and health-care providers are looking for nurses who can come into the profession with critical-thinking skills, strong problem-solving abilities, and a proven record of success in the classroom,” said Carrie Slagle, MSN/ED, BSN, RN, the coordinator of the Second Degree Nursing Program at Carlow. “We have found that employers value the additional education and experience that second degree nurses bring to the workplace.”
This group of students include three males and seven females, and come from professions as diverse as teacher, paramedic, and patient care technicians or nursing assistants. Their families will be present during the ceremony to share in the joy of the occasion.
The nursing pinning ceremony is a rite of passage into the nursing profession, and celebrates the conclusion of a nurse’s undergraduate academic career. The practice of pinning new nursing graduates dates back to Florence Nightingale, who was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition for her service to the injured during the Crimean War in the 1860s. She, in turn, shared the honor with a medal of excellence to the nurses that she taught.
While the pinning ceremony initiates the students into the sisterhood and brotherhood of nurses, the ten graduates will still have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX, before they will be licensed to practice nursing.
### Editor’s Note: The news media is welcome to cover the nursing pinning ceremony at Carlow. Please contact Drew Wilson on his cell phone (412) 260-6807 to arrange convenient, free parking.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in four colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, Learning and Innovation, and Professional Studies. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s 13 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.