(COLLEGE STATION, TX) — The Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Nursing welcomed its newest students to the nursing profession with a Scroll Ceremony on Monday.

Forty-three students were recognized at the event on the TAMHSC Bryan Campus, a new tradition for the college designed to acknowledge the respect, honor and dignity ascribed to a career in nursing.

Students were greeted by Sharon Wilkerson, Ph.D., RN, CNE, dean of the TAMHSC-College of Nursing. Susan Yarbrough, Ph.D., RN, associate dean for academic affairs, served as keynote speaker.

“Over the last century, nursing has evolved into a very complex profession,” Dr. Yarbrough said. “Nurses are faced with split-second life and death decisions on a daily basis and are constantly challenged to make ethical decisions in providing care.”

Students were presented with a scroll inscribed with the Code of Ethics for Nurses from the American Nurses Association and acknowledged their acceptance of the code with their signature. By signing their name, students pledged to uphold the high ethical standards written in the code and serve the nursing profession with professionalism.

“The beginning of a professional nursing education is a pivotal time in a nurse’s career, and we are excited to mark this time with a formal ceremony of this nature,” Dr. Wilkerson said. “The code of ethics presented at the ceremony will provide guidance for our students throughout this program and for the entirety of their nursing career.”