The Evolving Face of Nursing
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PITT UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SPRING 2014 SCHOOL OF NURSINGNurse MAGAZINE yearsTHETHE EVOLVINGEVOLVING FACEFACE OFOF NURSINGNURSING About the cover: This edition of Pitt Nurse offers the reader a chance to look back at the evolution of the School of Nursing since its founding in 1939. We celebrate the growth of the school in response to changes and advances in science, the world, and the profession. We hope that you will join us for a special year of events celebrating this historic milestone! 75 YEARS: THE EVOLVING FACE OF NURSING • On April 6, 1939, the University • Dean Kuehn designed the student of Pittsburgh School of Nursing uniforms and the School of Nursing pin. was founded. The pin is still in use today. • The first dean was Ruth Perkins Kuehn. • The candle represents the light of learning. • The first faculty member was • The spaces between the candle’s Alice Crist Malone. flames represent the three rivers that converge in Pittsburgh, and the laurel • Offices were on the 26th floor of the branches on either side of the candle Cathedral of Learning. are symbolic of honor and distinction. • Students lived in hospital residences • 1787 is the year in which the throughout the city. University of Pittsburgh was founded. • In 1939–40, the first class enrolled • In 1939, there were 300,000 active 19 women. nurses in the United States, compared to the more than 3 million nursing • Twelve students had already professionals today. completed two years at Pitt. • Seven students came from other institutions. • Sixteen students were from Pennsylvania. Inside PITT NURSE 75 YEARS: THE EVOLVING FACE Our Deans . 22 OF NURSING Giving to the School of Nursing . 23 Nursing Research Through the Years . 24 75 Years of Excellence in Nursing Education, Research, and Service . 3 Service to the Community . 25 Faculty Members Talk About the Cameos of Caring . 27 Evolution of the School . .18 Development . 28 A Point of Pride or Controversy? School News . 29 The Nursing Uniform . .19 Alumni News + Notes . 32 Keepers of the Light . 20 Continuing Education . 36 Our Neighborhood, Then and Now . .21 NurseBeat . 37 II UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING DEAN'S MESSAGE year. Throughout 2014, we will be In 1939, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the University of World War II commences in Europe. Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Baseball legend Lou Gehrig is diagnosed with ALS. This is an obvious opportunity to recognize the many innovations and Gone with the Wind and The Wizard accomplishments of the school as of Oz pack people into movie houses. well as the many achievements of our Gas is 10 cents per gallon. alumni, faculty members, and students. It also is a chance for us to explore Regular television broadcasts begin how much the nursing profession has in the United States. changed, particularly the amazing The World’s Fair opens in New York. growth in the responsibilities and There are approximately 300,000 opportunities for nurses at the bedside, active nurses in the United States. in the administrative suite, in the research lab, and in the university. Thus, we can tie the school’s evolution Skip to 2014. to that of the nursing profession: The World politics are in flux as Russia school has had to enhance and revise annexes part of Ukraine. its offerings to produce appropriately 7.5 million people sign up for trained nursing professionals and In addition to events, we’ll have special health care coverage as part of the educators. At the same time, the roles publications, including this issue of Pitt Affordable Care Act. and responsibilities of nurses have been extended thanks to the innovations in Nurse, to mark this anniversary year. The Lego Movie and Captain practice due to research advances. America: The Winter Soldier lure This issue traces the history of the millions to the theater. No matter how much society has school, identifying how it has evolved The Winter Olympics are held in changed or how far health care to meet the needs of the health care field Sochi, Russia. has come, nursing and nurses have and our students. We look at how the remained at the forefront of patient school’s academic offerings, research The average cost of a gallon of gas care, patient advocacy, and the endeavors, and community improve- is $3.69. evolution of theoretical and applied ment efforts have shaped the profession There are an estimated 1.5 billion health-related research. of nursing and those who have earned smartphones in the world. their degrees here. Pitt nurses have contributed so much to There are now more than 3 million the growth of the field, changing prac- I invite you to join us on this journey nursing professionals in this country. tice at the bedside, on the battlefield, through the School of Nursing’s 75-year and in the boardroom. Our alumni tradition of excellence in nursing educa- have developed new tools, innovative tion and science. treatments, efficient processes, and All this is to say that the world has new ways to better serve patients changed dramatically in the last 75 and communities. years. From technology to medicine to a more global perspective, it’s a During our 75th anniversary year, we Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, FAAN very different world today. will commemorate the contributions Dean and Distinguished Service Professor that this school’s alumni, faculty of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh It is fascinating to realize how much members, and students have made to School of Nursing our profession has also changed, the advancement of nursing education, particularly in light of the special research, the profession, health care, anniversary we are marking this and the community. PITT NURSE SPRING 2014 1 DEAN'S MESSAGE “Someone once told me your The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing has served vocation should be your avocation . Love what you do, and when you as a change agent for nursing education, research, practice, don’t love it anymore, change . and service. Here are just a few examples of the milestones There are so many opportunities out there that nurses shouldn’t in the school’s distinguished history. have to feel locked into any one thing . There are unlimited possi- bilities for making a difference ”. 1940 1944–45 “ Tamara J. Aitken (MSN ’84), Offers first continuing education Bestows the first master’s degrees School of Nursing Alumni News, program in the United States, covering in nursing in Pennsylvania spring 1999 nursing education, nursing arts, mental hygiene, and medical/surgical nursing 1950s With funding from the Sarah Mellon 1994 1941 Foundation, undertakes three research Wins Nursing and National Defense projects on personnel use and patient Is designated a Nursing Research Act funding to provide training to care, marking the beginning of the Intensive Environment by the National students through the U.S. Army Cadet school’s thriving research program Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Nursing Program Institute of Nursing Research 1954 1995 1943 Introduces one of the first nursing Is recommended for accreditation PhD programs in the United States Announces the first distinguished by the National League for Nursing clinical faculty scholar endowment in a U.S. school of nursing Education and for membership in 1968 the Association of Collegiate Schools of Nursing and is approved by the Initiates the first oncology clinical 2001 Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing nursing specialist program in the United States Opens the first genome lab housed in a university school of nursing 1974 2002–06 Introduces the first adult nurse practi- “We need to join with our most tioner program in Pennsylvania Constructs a state-of-the-art anatomy important allies, our patients/ and physiology lab, simulated operat- ing room, and clinical research suite consumers, to make the health 1977 care system one that serves patients well . The bottom line Wins accreditation for its continuing 2006 is if nurses do not get involved, education program by the American someone else will and their Nurses Association Begins offering the first Doctor issues will take precedence ”. of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in Pennsylvania Marguerite Donoghue 1987 (BSN ’74, MN ’80) Opens the Center for Nursing Research “University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Alumni to support faculty and student research Newsletter, fall 1992 1989 Secures a National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) grant to develop one of the first two exploratory centers ”in nursing research 2 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING 75 YEARS: THE EVOLVING FACE OF NURSING years of Excellence in Nursing Education, Research, and Service Although 2014 is dedicated to celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, we also take this opportunity to reflect on the dramatic evolution of the school in response to external factors such as wars, scientific advancements, and cultural shifts like the rise of feminism. The development of nursing practice and research does not happen in a vacuum. Therefore, to appreciate the accomplishments and transformation of the School of Nursing, it is essential to look at the context of such growth. PITT NURSE SPRING 2014 3 75 YEARS: THE EVOLVING FACE OF NURSING 1938 1938–45 The Nurses Memorial in Arlington National In terms of nursing, the late 1930s and early 1940s Cemetery is erected to honor World War I nurses, are times of building up the profession’s capacity to of whom more than 600 are buried in Arlington. meet anticipated military needs abroad. Prior to this, health care mostly took place in the home or in small community-based hospitals. This period also seems to highlight a shift in perceptions about the field; 1939 there is a surge in efforts to standardize nursing The University sees a need for nurses education, and a number of national and international due to the ramp-up in military actions health organizations are formed.