The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Nursing celebrates 50th anniversary

    former deans with president

    Current dean of the college of nursing Dr. Ann Carruth (left) posed with former dean
    Dr. Donnie Booth, current university president John L. Crain, former dean Dr. Ellienne Tate
    and former dean Dr. Barbara Moffett at the 50th Anniversary Nursing Gala.  
    The Lion’s Roar / Allison Crady
     

    An aura of pride, accomplishment, honor and fellowship filled the ballroom as past, present and future nurses celebrated 50 years of excellence. 

    Originating in 1964 with three faculty members and a $30,000 budget, the university’s College of Nursing has grown to enroll approximately 1,600 students. Through the years, the department has significantly improved the quality of instruction and hands-on learning opportunities. A celebratory gala was hosted last Friday in the Student Union Ballroom.

    “Fifty years of anything deserves a party, but 50 years of excellence is truly remarkable,” said Dr. John Crain, president of the university. “It’s always been so impressive to me, the extraordinary level of excellence and quality. Everybody is just so committed to delivering a really outstanding product to the students.”

    The 50th Anniversary Gala began with an hour of socializing, enjoying refreshments and viewing nursing graduate memorabilia and donated silent auction items. As part of the program, Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, led guests on a journey through the history of the department.

    One unexpected special guest added a heartfelt touch to the evening. Jeanne Brooks, a Southeastern alumna and current staff member, told guests about her son Jordon who suffered a fatal accident at the age of 28 and had been treated by Southeastern nurses. 

    “When the time came that they could do no more for him, they held my hand and stayed by my side until I could let him go,” said Brooks. “They saw my child as more than a number, more than a heart rate, more than a critical injury in room six. They saw my child as a person with a family, a job, a passion for life and dreams for a great future.”

    According to Eileen Creel, head of the School of Nursing, Brooks called an estimated six weeks prior to explain how wonderful the program and its graduates were.  

    As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, 50 outstanding nursing alumni, selected by alumni, faculty, students and nurses, were announced and honored. 

    In addition to being a night of recognition for the college and nursing alumni, the gala served to reunite friendships. 

    silent auction

    To help raise money to cover the cost of the gala, the nursing department held a
    silent auction with pieces donated by nursing alumni as well as
    Hammond and Baton Rouge businesses. The Lion’s Roar / Allison Crady

     

    Dr. Ellienne Tate, who served as head of the nursing program from 1970 through 1998, had the opportunity to catch up with the many faculty and graduates she had worked with. 

    “Though there are several in Hammond I see quite often. I miss the contact with faculty and students,” said Tate. “I am especially proud of the graduates and the difference they make in health care, our community, Louisiana and many throughout the nation.”

    Barbara Hyde, longest tenured nursing faculty with 42 years of teaching, explained how Tate improved the university nursing experience.

    “I came to Southeastern because of Ellienne. The faculty throughout the time I was here were very close,” said Hyde. “We supported each other, though you had the women bickering at times. Ellienne was such a fine dean, that we all wanted to do well.”

    In preparation for the gala many of the faculty members helped with collecting items for the silent auction. Many utilized their connections with Hammond and Baton Rouge businesses; a few sent in their own artistic creations, and one of the faculty’s husband’s company sponsored a photo booth for the evening.

    Many of the nursing faculty members were proud to explain the doctorate program, which admitted its first student in 2012. 

    “We are one of two programs in the university that has a doctorate program. That has been a growing trend across the country for nurses who are interested in practice and making a difference at the doctoral level,” said Carruth. “When I first came here, faculty often came for the lifestyle benefits, but now I find that faculty that come here are coming here because they have expertise they’re willing to share. I think some of that is because we have more doctoral prepared faculty than we’ve ever had before.” 

    In addition to the doctorate program and several newly available concentrations, the nursing program has progressed in the use of simulation. According to Creel, the advancement in simulation came almost entirely from faculty donations.

    “I think we have done a tremendous advancement in the use of simulation, which really helps students engage in experiences that are rare and unusual,” said Creel. “We have a lot more high-fidelity simulators that breathe and have heart beats. We have several men, a lady who delivers, a child, a baby and all kinds of simulations.”

    According to Creel, money received from the silent auction left over after covering the cost of hosting the gala will go towards improving available simulations.  

    When asked what they were most proud of about the College of Nursing, attendants were quick to talk about the high quality of instruction. Carruth said she was most proud of, “the ability to maintain excellence.”

     “A lot of our faculty members are graduates. In Louisiana, a lot of times you live here, you go to school here and you stay here,” said Creel. “A lot of times they’ll come to us young with a Masters degree and will be with us through getting their Ph.D. and doctorate. We have a strong focus on evidence-based practice; therefore, their return to school to work on their Ph.D. or DNPs is just really important to our growth as a department.”

    For more information on the history of the department or enrollment, visit or call the office of the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at 985-549-5179. 

    Leave a Comment
    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Your donation will support The Lion's Roar student journalists at Southeastern Louisiana University.
    In addition, your contribution will allow us to cover our annual website hosting costs.
    No gift is too small.

    Donate to The Lion's Roar
    $600
    $1000
    Contributed
    Our Goal

    Comments (0)

    Comments and other submissions are encouraged but are subject to The Lion's Roar Comments and Moderation Policy. All views expressed are those of the author and should not be interpreted as the views of The Lion's Roar, the administration, faculty, staff, or students of Southeastern Louisiana University.
    All The Lion's Roar Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *