BSN students have the opportunity to purchase a BSN Nursing Pin. Purchasing a Pin is optional.

The LSUHSC SON pin was developed in 1958 to identify the graduates of this program with both the University and the broad service area to which these graduates would contribute as professional nurses. The caduceus embedded in the floor of the lobby of the oldest building in the Louisiana State University Medical Center provided the central ides for the design of the pin. This Assyria-Babylonian symbol represents the Greek God Hermes, who is credited by historians with performing medical functions; it consists of a wand entwined with two serpents and bordered by two griffins. A band enriches the replica of Hermes' caduceus on which the name of the University and the abbreviation for the degrees, BSN, is represented in raised Gothic letters.

Wearing the nursing pin is a source of pride; it symbolizes the right to serve others, acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of Nursing, and the educational preparation of the wearer as graduates of this program. Pinning is a rite of passage that signals the transition of the student nurse to the professional nurse.

If purchasing a pin, the student must do so through the LSUHSC Bookstore by the deadline listed above.

The pin will be picked up from the bookstore by the Office of Student Affairs and will be taken to the venue for the ceremony. The student will be given the pin when lined up to walk on stage. The student will be pinned by the Program Director.

The BSN student may have a family pin them on stage during the ceremony. The student must submit a written request to be pinned by a family member. The family member must be a Registered Nurse and a graduate from the LSUHSC School of Nursing. The Office of Student Affairs will follow up with the student to confirm the request has been approved or denied. The student must order a BSN Nursing Pin to request to be pinned during the ceremony.

If requesting a family member to pin, the Pinning Request form must be filled out by Date Forthcoming.

https://forms.office.com/r/i8jUMmxZ8C

Students must submit an official, written request to the Dean of the School of Nursing, Dr. Demetrius Porche, to be excused from participating in Graduation. The request must include the reason for not participating.

Rehearsal: Business casual attire or school uniform are acceptable. Follow Guidelines for Clothing below.

New Orleans Pre-Commencement & Awards Ceremony AND Commencement: Academic regalia: cap and gown, as approved for the degree. The following sash and cord approved:  Baccalaureate Honor cord, Class Officer’s sash, DEI sash and cord, NSNA cord, SGA sash, SNA sash and cord, STTI cord, and SVA sash and cord.

• Decorations to Academic regalia are not allowed.
• Do not wear, denim, shorts, scrubs (tops, bottoms, or sets), torn or tattered clothing.
• Under academic regalia please wear dress slacks {jean, shorts, scrubs are not allowed}, dress shirt, dress)
• Closed toe shoes preferred (Flip flops, casual sandals, tennis shoes, cowboy boots are not allowed)
• No purses during ceremony as there is no security guard to watch over.
• Gum chewing, electronic devices, bull horns/air horns are not allowed.
• Students will be asked to leave if inappropriately dressed

OCIS Shreveport Pre-Commenement Ceremony: Business professional attire is required for graduating students attending the OCIS Shreveport Pre-Commencement Ceremony.

Personalized announcements for Commencement may be ordered online from Herff Jones: https://collegegrad.herffjones.com/.

Blank Commencement announcements, with the official Health Sciences Center seal, may be purchased from the LSUHSC Bookstore.

Students can also purchase diploma frames through the Bookstore (no shipping fee) or two different websites and have it shipped directly to their home.  The websites are listed below.

https://www.diplomaframe.com/lsuha

https://www.framingsuccess.com/category/detail/sid/19207/categoryID/106617392

A commencement ceremony, honoring candidates for degrees of the respective professional schools of the LSU Health Sciences Center, will be held. Payment of all financial indebtedness to the LSU System prior to commencement, as well as attendance at commencement, unless excused, in writing by the student's Dean, is a degree requirement

Summer graduates are allowed to participate in the Fall ceremony. A student must contact the School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs if interested in participating in the Spring Commencement: nsstuaffairs@lsuhsc.edu. Names will not be printed in the Fall Commencement program.

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 10:00am
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 10:00am

*Additional School of Nursing requirements include: completion of all end of course evaluations, Skyfactor's Benchworks exit survey (formerly known as EBI), must attend rehearsal and awards ceremony. Additional information is listed in the Nursing section of the LSUHSC Academic Catalog/Bulletin.