Watts School of Nursing honors the nursing students’ completion of their first year with a special ceremony called a Black Banding. Originally the Watts nurses wore caps to which could be added a colored band to designate their levels of seniority while still doing their clinicals, the primary way the students gain hospital experience.

Though their uniforms no longer include a cap, the same tradition of honoring and designating the student nurses continues. Today black banding is done with the pinning of a Watts pin to the students’ uniforms by a Registered Nurse (RN) whom the student has asked. Emily honored my mother as a nurse by asking her to participate in this special ceremony by pinning her.

Check out our videos page to see the introductions and exit from Mount Sylvan Methodist Church where the ceremony was held. There are also bunches of pictures in our photo gallery.

Congratulations, on the completion of your first year of nursing school! I am so proud of you! You’re half-way there!