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Baptist Health College Little Rock Raises Funds for Clinical Coat Program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) is raising money with the Baptist Health Foundation for the school’s Clinical Coat Program, a ceremony for freshmen nursing students to commemorate their beginning steps into the nursing profession. 

BHCLR places immense value on students and their educational experience. The Clinical Coat Program affirms the school’s commitment to producing leaders in health care. 

As students start their clinical rotations, this ceremony displays the journey ahead of them in school. Held at the beginning of a student’s nursing career and before they start clinical, the program honors the hard work, dedication and sacrifices they will make over the next 18 months. Students will receive an embroidered gray scrub coat with the School of Nursing patch to wear while at clinical.  

Joel Hicks, EdD, RT(R), president of BHCLR, is thrilled to be reinstating this tradition once more. 

“We are delighted to start the Clinical Coat Program, a new tradition that honors the dedication and commitment of our nursing students,” Hicks said. “This ceremony is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of our future health care professionals, and it underscores our college’s unwavering support of their journey. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to providing exceptional education and training, preparing our students to become leaders in health care. We are grateful to have the support of Baptist Health Foundation as we work to make this a meaningful celebration for students. ”

Clinical coats hold a significant importance in nursing as they symbolize the transition from the academic realm to the professional world of health care. These ceremonies instill a sense of pride, responsibility and commitment in nursing students as they embark on their journey to become caregivers. The donning of a clinical coat represents the trust and confidence bestowed upon them by their educators, mentors and future patients while providing an opportunity for students to reflect on their chosen profession and reaffirm their dedication to serving others with compassion and integrity. 

Candice Palmer, MSN, RN, RNC-NIC, PMC-NE, BHCLR nursing faculty, believes this ceremony will instill in students a sense of ownership and pride of their nursing education.

“As a faculty, we are deeply committed to celebrating the milestones in our students’ journeys,” Palmer said. “Raising funds for the Clinical Coat Program is more than just about providing a coat; it’s about instilling a sense of pride and belonging in our future health care professionals. This ceremony marks a pivotal moment that reinforces their dedication to the field and contributes to their perseverance and longevity in their careers. Through this event, we are investing in the future of health care, ensuring our students feel valued and motivated to excel.”

Baptist Health Foundation is committed to improving the health and lives of Arkansans by producing committed caregivers to cultivate and build the health care workforce in the state. Their support of the Clinical Coat Program ensures BHCLR nursing students can have this opportunity to celebrate their educational journey. 

Cyndi Gregory, Baptist Health Foundation senior major gifts officer, is excited to bring new life to this ceremony. 

“Baptist Health Foundation is grateful to work alongside BHCLR in these efforts to create a purposeful student experience,” Gregory said. “We want our future health care workers to know we believe in their hard work and we desire to see them walk across the stage at graduation.”

To make a donation to the Clinical Coat Program fund, visit https://bit.ly/bhcollegedonation. To learn more about giving opportunities at BHCLR, contact Gregory at cynthia.gregory@baptist-health.org or at (501) 202-1119

 

About Baptist Health

For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app

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