Four students pursuing Middle Georgia State University's graduate degree in Nursing donned their professional white coats at a recent ceremony, symbolizing their transition from a foundational to an advanced scientific clinical level of knowledge.
 
Lorin Butler, Melissa Ngo, Lauruby Benz and Laura Moon are RNs enrolled in the University's Master of Science in Nursing-Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. They participated in the December 2 “Cloaking of the White Laboratory Coat” ceremony, the second such event MGA has held since launching the graduate program in January 2016.
 
The white coat ceremony is a rite of passage in the journey toward a healthcare career. The white coat represents the virtues of humanism, altruism, responsibility, duty, honor, respect and compassion.
 
The ceremony's keynote speaker was Anita Watson, trauma surgery nurse practitioner at Navicent Health. She talked about the history of nurse practitioners and their career potential in the current healthcare environment. Family and friends of the white coat students, along with MGA faculty and fellow graduate students, attended a reception that followed the ceremony, which was organized by Shirley Camp, MGA assistant professor of Nursing.
 
Middle Georgia State's Master of Science in Nursing-Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse practitioner program prepares advanced practice RNs to provide care to a broad population base of patients in a variety of acute/sub-acute healthcare settings. Graduates will possess the skills to provide high quality, patient-centered, advanced nursing care for adult patients in healthcare environments ranging from emergency centers to gerontology skilled-care facilities.