Emory & Henry Nursing Class of 1956 Shares History with Class of 2024 Nursing Students and Tours the School of Health Sciences
Three nurses from the class of 1956 at Emory & Henry College visited the School of Nursing at the Health Sciences campus on Thursday, May 19 to share their experiences with the ten new nursing students in the class of 2024.
The class of ’56 visited the Health Sciences campus for a tour of the new nursing facilities and met with the new nursing students and faculty at the College. The nursing program at Emory & Henry College was active in the 1950s but closed down shortly thereafter, producing a several-decade gap in the classes graduated from nursing at Emory & Henry College. “Emory & Henry was very progressive and forward-thinking to begin a BSN program in the 1950s. Sadly, a shortage of qualified nursing faculty was as much of a challenge then as it is today,” said Dr. Laurie Anne Ferguson, founding dean of the new school of nursing.
According to the nurses of the class of ’56, there have been significant changes to the way the nursing program operates, including the dress code and the expectations of the students. The new standard for nursing students are scrubs, non-slip shoes and a white jacket. “We wore a starched blue jacket, a white apron and a button-on collar,” said Shirley Minter of Beckley, W. Va., class of ’56. Minter taught nursing and worked at a miners’ hospital after graduation. Additionally, nursing students were required to wash reusable gloves and sharpen syringes before being allowed to finish their shift, said Mary Ann Poling of Beckley, W. Va., class of ’56. Poling also taught and worked in a miners’ hospital following graduation. “Their passion for patients and nursing as well as a shared bond with each other was obvious, and made a meaningful impact on the new first students,” said Ferguson.
“Sisterhood with my classmates was most memorable. You don’t forget them,” said Charlotte Webb of Salley, S.C., class of ’56, while sitting next to Minter and Poling. Webb went on to be an operating room supervisor following graduation. Surrounded by the class of ’24 nursing students and the new nursing faculty, Webb urged, “always keep your passion for caring.”
“Nursing is not only an occupation but a calling,” said Ferguson. “Our hope is that restarting a BSN program at Emory & Henry College will have a positive and lasting impact on this region and beyond in addressing the nursing shortage.”
To learn more about the School of Nursing at Emory & Henry College, visit https://www.ehc.edu/academics/nursing/
Open gallery
The class of ’56 holds court at Emory & Henry College’s School of Health Sciences building. From left to right: Charlotte Webb, Shirley Minter and Mary Ann Poling.
