Feb. 23, 2010 - The School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, one of the oldest nursing schools in the U.S. - and the first in Texas - will celebrate 120 years on March 10th.
UTMB's School of Nursing was born after a prominent Galveston family traveled to New York for specialized medical care and returned home with a professional nurse: Dorothea Fick, a graduate of the Mt. Sinai Hospital Training School for Nurses.
Ms. Fick's arrival highlighted the scarcity of skilled nursing care in Texas, prompting local women to raise funds to found a nursing school, a year before UTMB's medical school admitted its first students. As the school's first director, Ms. Fick welcomed ten students in 1890.
Today, UTMB's School of Nursing offers a diverse learning experience beyond the traditional four-year baccalaureate program, including:
- The Center for Nursing Research, which is becoming well-known for bio-behavioral research and clinical work;
- A Clinical Nurse Leadership program for Master's students that aims to increase the number of advanced degree nurses in the UTMB health system;
- A Master's of Science in Nursing Leadership in Complex Health Organizations, developed in collaboration with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center;
- A new partnership with Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas-Pan American to increase racial diversity in Texas nursing education;
- Programs for the distance learner, with the addition of new Master's and Ph.D. online education opportunities; and
- Innovative approaches to education, from clinical simulation with interactive mannequins to fast-track degree options.
"UTMB's first nurses brought dedication and passion and a pioneering spirit as they helped shape a new profession and provide the best possible care," says Pamela Watson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing. "Today our nurses proudly carry on that tradition as they address critical health issues - from tackling the nursing shortage to contributing to research discoveries."
Source: UTMB