Celebrating The Year of the Nurse

Hunt School of Nursing Recognizes Contributions of Faculty and Students

As nurses around the world are on the frontlines of caring for patients with the Coronavirus, it’s appropriate that even before the pandemic began, 2020 was designated as the “Year of the Nurse.” The declaration by the World Health Assembly celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Further, the American Nurses Association, which traditionally observes National Nurses Week May 6-12, has expanded the recognition to the entire month of May.

While the Gardner-Webb University Hunt School of Nursing (HSON) recognizes the excellence of its students, faculty and staff on a daily basis, National Nurses Month is a time to highlight their dedication and commitment to the profession. Over the next week (May 4-10), profiles of seven nursing students will be published in the GWU Newscenter.

Dr. Tracy Arnold, HSON director and associate professor, appreciates the daily contributions of the nursing faculty and students, especially during the changes brought on by the Coronavirus. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty and students for using their God-given-talents to serve their communities,” Arnold offered. “Our Bulldog Nurses have stepped up to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with faith, courage, and perseverance. The HSON faculty have done a tremendous job transitioning courses online, with many of them maintaining their own clinical practice.”

She continued, “Many of our students are on the frontlines of COVID-19 and continue to persist through their academic studies despite the challenges they are facing in their professional lives. Nightingale once said, ‘How little can be done under the spirit of fear.’ If you look at the contributions our Bulldog Nurses continue to make in their communities, it is evident that their faith in God and commitment to patients, shines much greater than their fear.”

The HSON has a rich history of graduating quality, highly skilled nursing professionals. Nursing education began at Gardner-Webb in 1965 by offering an associate of science in nursing program (ASN) but has now expanded to include the BSN program (traditional and accelerated options), Davis RN to BSN program, MSN program that includes education, administration and business administration options, and the DNP program with options in Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Post Master’s Leadership Track. The school also offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nursing Education, and post-master’s certificates in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, and Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Learn more about the Hunt School of Nursing