The Maltese Cross is considered the first true nursing pin. Which symbol corresponds to this pin?

• A. Maltese Cross
• B. Red Cross
• C. Star of Life
• D. Caduceus

Answer: (A)

The symbol being tested is the one tied to nursing history and professional identity. The Maltese Cross was adopted as the first true nursing pin because of its long-standing association with care for the sick and vulnerable, rooted in the charitable work of the Knights Hospitaller. Early nursing schools used this cross on graduation pins to mark entry into the profession, creating a distinct symbol that graduates could wear as a badge of their commitment to patient care.

This symbol stands out from the others: the Red Cross is a global humanitarian emblem, not a nursing graduation badge; the Star of Life represents emergency medical services and EMS personnel; the Caduceus—often mistaken for a medical symbol—belongs to ancient myth and is commonly used in medicine more broadly but not as a nursing pin. So the Maltese Cross best fits as the nursing pin, reflecting the profession’s historical roots and the identity of its nurses.