School of Nursing

Office of Student Services

 White Coat Ceremony

 

Ceremony Information

Date Saturday, January 17, 2026

Time:

Ceremony begins: 09:00 a.m.  Students should arrive no later than 08:45 a.m.

Doors open for guests at 08:30 a.m.

Location:

Louisiana Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Lion's Building, 1st Floor, Rm 155, 2020 Gravier St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Parking: Guest parking will be available in the Roman Street garage, free of charge.

Live Streaming for White Coat Ceremony

Please note: Guest seating may be limited. Information will be communicated with participating students.

Photography

Photography is available to commemorate the student receiving the white coat. The cost is $10 per picture. Please bring cash or check for payment to the ceremony. An envelope will be provided.

Additional Information

Students must purchase a waist-length white coat with the LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans logo embroidered on the left side of the coat. The coat must be purchased from the LSUHSC bookstore prior to the event. The white coat should be clean and neatly pressed for professional appearance. Students must wear the School of Nursing class uniform with the shirt tucked-in, and dress shoes (sandals, flip-flops, and tennis shoes are not allowed)

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Time:

Ceremony begins: 06:00 p.m. Students should arrive no later than 05:30 p.m.

Doors open for guests at 05:30 p.m.

Location:

Louisiana Health Sciences Center Shreveport Medical School (Building C), Zadeck Conference Room, 1501 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71103

Parking:

Guest parking will be available in parking lots B and L

LSU Health Shreveport Map

 

Photography

Photography is available to commemorate the student receiving the white coat.  Photography is provided at no cost by the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport photographer.

Additional Information

Students must purchase a waist-length white coat with the LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans logo embroidered on the left side of the coat. The coat must be purchased from the LSUHSC bookstore prior to the event. The white coat should be clean and neatly pressed for professional appearance. Students must wear the School of Nursing class uniform with the shirt tucked-in, and dress shoes (sandals, flip-flops, and tennis shoes are not allowed).

Ordering Instructions for OCIS students

The price of one lab coat is $29 ($31.90 after tax).  The easiest method for OCIS students is to upload money to your pay paw account, then submit your size and student ID number to the bookstore.  Using this method, the bookstore can charge your pay paw account directly and you will not need to call the bookstore to make a payment. 

The coats will be shipped to your instructional site, and instructions will  be provided when they are ready for pickup.

Steps to add money to your Pay Paw account:

  1. Visit the link: https://services.jsatech.com/index.php?cid=122 or Pay Paw
  2. Click “Add Cash Here” on the left side of the screen
  3. Enter your 10 digit Pay Paw Number = Student ID number that begins with 444.
  4. Select “other amount” and enter total amount desired.
  5. Click continue to payment and enter payment details
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Time:

Ceremony begins: 09:00 a.m. Students should arrive no later than 08:45 a.m.

Doors open for guests at 08:30 a.m.

Location:

Louisiana State University A&M Campus
Huey P Long Field House, 1st Floor
50 Field House Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Parking:

Guests may park on the LSU A&M campus where available.  Parking permits are not required on weekends.

LSU A&M Map

 

Additional Information

Students must purchase a waist-length white coat with the LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans logo embroidered on the left side of the coat. The coat must be purchased from the LSUHSC bookstore prior to the event. The white coat should be clean and neatly pressed for professional appearance. Students must wear the School of Nursing class uniform with the shirt tucked-in, and dress shoes (sandals, flip-flops, and tennis shoes are not allowed).

Ordering Instructions for OCIS students

The price of one lab coat is $29 ($31.90 after tax).  The easiest method for OCIS students is to upload money to your pay paw account, then submit your size and student ID number to the bookstore.  Using this method, the bookstore can charge your pay paw account directly and you will not need to call the bookstore to make a payment. 

The coats will be shipped to your instructional site, and instructions will  be provided when they are ready for pickup.

Steps to add money to your Pay Paw account:

  1. Visit the link: https://services.jsatech.com/index.php?cid=122 or Pay Paw
  2. Click “Add Cash Here” on the left side of the screen
  3. Enter your 10 digit Pay Paw Number = Student ID number that begins with 444.
  4. Select “other amount” and enter total amount desired.
  5. Click continue to payment and enter payment details

 

 

History of the White Coat Ceremony

In August 2014, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) selected 100 schools of nursing, including LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing, to receive support to fund the pilot of the White Coat Ceremonies (WCC). The WCC is designed to instill a commitment to providing compassionate care among future health professionals. The ground-breaking program was funded and developed by APGF Trustee, Elaine Adler and her husband Mike, Co-Founders of the Adler Aphasia Center, to promote humanistic, patient-centered care among incoming nursing students.

“As the Arnold P. Gold Foundation broadens its mission to engage the entire healthcare team, we are pleased to continue the partnership with the AACN to pilot the White Coat Ceremony for nursing students,” stated Dr. Richard Levin, President and CEO. “Creating a new link between nurses and physicians through humanism supports optimal health care in the 21st century. We are thankful for the support of Elaine and Mike Adler in this partnership project.”

Though White Coat Ceremonies have been an important rite of passage in medical schools for more than 20 years, this new collaboration between APGF and AACN marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events in schools of nursing. In the initial piloted year, nursing schools in 43 states plus the District of Columbia were provided financial support and guidance to offer a White Coat Ceremony.

The White Coat Ceremonies consist of the recitation of an oath, cloaking of students in a white coat, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception for students and invited guests. Students also receive a specially designed pin to serve as a visual reminder of the oath and commitment to provide high quality care.

"By offering White Coat Ceremonies, our schools are sending a clear message to new nursing students that compassionate care must be a hallmark of their clinical practice," said AACN President Eileen T. Breslin. "Securing a commitment to providing patient-centered care at the beginning of a nurse's professional formation will help to raise the quality of care available to all patients."