First Step into Nursing, White Coat Ceremony: May 12th World Nurses Day Program Held

The “First Step into Nursing, White Coat Ceremony” program, organized as part of the May 12th World Nurses Day, was held on May 12, 2026, in the Ethem Erkoç Conference Hall of Hitit University.

The program began with a moment of silence and the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem. In her opening speech, Prof. Dr. Nuriye Büyükkayacı Duman, Head of the Nursing Department and Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Department, made assessments on the 2026 ICN theme, emphasizing that nursing is a crucial structure that needs to be strategically strengthened for the sustainability of health systems.

Following this, the Dean of the Faculty and Head of the Pediatric Nursing Department, Prof. Dr. Selen Özakar Akça, stated that the message of the 2026 ICN theme, “Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” is extremely meaningful. Prof. Dr. Selen Özakar Akça noted that the concept of empowered nurses signifies the more effective use of their role in protecting and improving health and advocating for the community.

As part of the program, a conference titled “Power in Nursing: Seeing the Invisible, Hearing the Silent, Building the Future” was given by Prof. Dr. Zehra Gök Metin, a faculty member of the Department of Internal Medicine Nursing at Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing. Prof. Dr. Gök Metin, a 2008 graduate of Çorum Health College, focused on concepts such as a safe working environment, economic equity, and full professional competence. She also evaluated issues such as the aging population, increasing care needs, the burden of chronic diseases, pandemics, global health crises, migration and cultural diversity, transformation in health technologies, burnout, and workload within the framework of the concept of power in nursing.

The program also included a violin and guitar performance by İlayda Şimşek and Fatma Elif Erkılıç, students from the Music Department of Hitit University Faculty of Fine Arts.

Following this, the white coat ceremony for first-year students and the oath ceremony for first and fourth-year students were held. The Nursing Oath was recited by Dr. Öğr. The program was enthusiastically read by the students, accompanied by faculty member Ayşe Burcu Başçı.

At the end of the program, certificates and plaques were presented. Prof. Dr. Selen Özakar Akça presented Prof. Dr. Zehra Gök Metin with a plaque, a certificate of appreciation, and flowers. Certificates were given to the faculty members and students who participated in the ceremony by Prof. Dr. Nuriye Büyükkayacı Duman and Prof. Dr. Selen Özakar Akça. In addition, Merve Gönül, Tuğba Karataş, and Emine Akçay, who achieved top grades, received certificates of achievement. The program concluded after a group photo session.