The School of Nursing celebrates success and the future with a gala dinner tonight
By Hannah Gray
In 1934, nurses wore crisp white hats, changed bedpans and did very little without a doctor's permission.
Now, 75 years later, nurses wear colorful, casual scrubs, are trained in sophisticated technology and have medical responsibilities that were originally held only by doctors.
The School of Nursing celebrates and honors this transformation with tonight's 75th anniversary gala dinner in the Chiles Center.
"For us, it is a moment to pause and reflect on all the people and practices and events that have led us to this point of excellence and to anticipate what is ahead of us," said Joanne Warner, dean of the School of Nursing.
The year-long celebration kicked off with the pinning ceremony at the May 2009 graduation and will conclude with this year's May 2010 graduation.
A pinning ceremony is reserved for graduating nursing students, staff, faculty and family.
The UP pins have the UP School of Nursing's logo on them, according to Emmy Rosinbum, the administrative assistant to the School of Nursing dean.
"Here, at our school, it is very special," Rosinbum said. "(It's) very ceremonial."
But tonight's gala is the centerpiece of the anniversary celebration.
"I cannot wait for the evening to fill the Chiles Center with the nursing energy that acknowledges the strong past and the possibilities that still lie ahead," Warner said.
The dinner will feature keynote speaker Diana Mason, the emeritus editor-in-chief for the "American Journal of Nursing."
"She will give a presentation, which I think will be enjoyable," Warner said.
Mason was appointed the Rudin Professor of Nursing at City University of New York's Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing in 2009.
She was also the lead co-editor of the aware-winning book "Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care."
In addition to other presentations, the night will focus on UP nursing throughout the years.
The night will begin with a brief history of the nursing at UP, as student volunteers, dressed in old nursing uniforms donated to the event, escort people to their tables.
Equipment from the UP archives will also be displayed as a historic element, according to Warner.
A video of current students and alumni will also be shown.
"I think the highlight will be a video that is prepared," Warner said. "I think it's going to bring to life UP nursing."
The dinner is expected to have over 500 people in attendance.
"We've been spreading the word," Warner said. "I'm really excited about it."
The dinner will have faculty, staff, students and other UP community members present, according to Warner.
"It's really exciting because it allows students to be a part of this historic event," said junior Elisabeth Loren, the UPSNA 75th anniversary coordinator and representative.
The theme of the 75th anniversary is difference makers.
"We are clear that we create nursing leaders," Warner said. "And difference makers recognizes that they all do that."
Along with a theme, the School of Nursing has chosen core words to represent the theme.
"The core words we chose were innovation, leadership, compassion and excellence," Rosinbum said.
Previous to tonight, the School of Nursing has held various functions to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
The University of Portland Student Nurses Association brought representatives from the Oregon Student Nurses Association in honor of the School of Nursing's 75th anniversary, according to Loren.
"I've enjoyed being involved with the 75th anniversary - something that is so important to the University, the School of Nursing, students, faculty and professors," Loren said. "It shows how we have grown and achieved so much in only 75 years - it's not that long."
Within the School of Nursing, receptions were held to thank everyone involved with nursing education at UP, including faculty and community agencies that help train UP nurses.
"Our year is to celebrate our brand, to make it yet more visible, and to thank the people who are a part of it," Warner said. "I say all the time 'The world needs UP nurses.'"
