Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine held its inaugural Inauguration and Badge Pinning Ceremony on 6 August 2024.
Chief Nursing Officer Ms Paulin Koh encouraged the Year 1 students to embrace a fruitful Nursing journey.
This milestone event officially inducted over 300 Year 1 NUS Nursing students into the NUS Nursing family and the broader Nursing community. Sharing about the event, Terina Tay Yan Wen, one of the two Project Directors, said, “Besides the Year 1 students, we have about 280 family members and loved ones join them for the ceremony. We were also honoured by the presence of Chief Nursing Officer Ms Paulin Koh and many NUS Nursing alumni.”
Muhammad Amir Bin Mohamed Imran, who is also a Project Director, said, “Outside the auditorium, we also had hospitals and healthcare clusters set up booths to share more about their work. Our idea is for students to gain a better understanding of Nursing and the healthcare landscape in Singapore through their interactions with these professionals.”
The Importance of Getting It Right
A Year 1 student receiving her Nursing badge from her House Captain.
Explaining the significance of the event, Dr Lim Fui Ping, Director of Student Affairs, NUS Nursing, said, “An inauguration holds deep significance as it welcomes new students into the Nursing family. It also demonstrates our commitment to care for them. Having their parents or loved ones around to witness and take part in this momentous occasion further solidifies the entire experience.”
“Parents are often concerned about their children’s career choices—and a lack of understanding often causes them to discourage their children from pursuing Nursing. That is why as part of the inauguration programme, we arranged for our alumni and nurse practitioners to share about their work, career pathways and experiences in a forum. Through seeing and hearing first-hand the different career pathways available to nurses as well as their dedication to care, commitment and compassion, we hope parents will be more supportive of their children going into Nursing.”
Pinning Down the Specifics
Year 2 student organisers Terina and Amir had their work cut out for them from day one. “We knew we wanted the attendees to understand the significance of the ceremony. We also wanted it to be a memorable one so that years later, they will look back on this ceremony as the beginning of their Nursing journey,” Terina said.
The duo eventually landed on three key components for the ceremony: badge pinning, candle lighting and recitation of the Nursing Pledge from the Singapore Nursing Board. “It was the first time an event of this kind was organised for Year 1 students. We had little to refer to—so we researched what others had done and discussed every aspect of the ceremony extensively with the NUS Nursing Sub-Club 17th Executive Committee and faculty members,” Amir said.
“Whether it was the theme, the design of the badge, the proceedings of the actual ceremony or other supplementary activities, we wanted to get them right. For example, we spent considerable time and effort perfecting every element of the badge, including its material, to ensure that our exact specifications were met.”
Terina added, “We also had many brainstorming sessions before settling on the theme ‘Enduring Care, Commitment and Compassion’ to communicate the values we hope the new students will embrace throughout their Nursing journey. Similarly, we chose the act of candle lighting for its symbolism of Florence Nightingale’s care, commitment and compassion for soldiers during her time. Not forgetting, we also brought these values to life through speakers in the Nursing forum, all of whom have exemplified the virtues of care, commitment and compassion.”
Setting a Precedent for the Future
Over 300 Year 1 students recited the Nursing Pledge in front of their loved ones and the wider nursing fraternity.
The ceremony was a year in the making—planning, coordinating with various stakeholders, and ironing out logistical arrangements. With the successful conclusion of the first Inauguration and Badge Pinning Ceremony, the team has taken time to reflect on the process. “This journey definitely had its ups and downs. But at the end of the day, we are heartened to see that many attendees really enjoyed the ceremony. For instance, I learned from a friend that one of the new students, who was originally undecided about Nursing, decided to give her best shot,” Terina smiled.
Looking ahead, they are already in touch with next year’s project directors for the inauguration ceremony. Terina said, “There are some things that would stay—the candle lighting, the badge pinning, and the reciting of the pledge. Then there are also others that are subject to change depending on the direction of the new project directors, such as the theme or the design of the badge. In terms of the programme and logistical setup, we definitely saw room for improvement and have shared these insights with the incoming project directors. We hope that by sharing about our experience openly, the next Inauguration and Badge Pinning Ceremony will be an even better one!”
“Even though we never had an inauguration ceremony when we were in Year 1, it was just as meaningful, if not more, that we got to create this valuable experience for our juniors,” Amir concluded.
