First nursing school in Nevada began with 12 students
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By Jill Stockton
As the Orvis School of Nursing celebrates its 50th anniversary, many of the school’s students are looking to the future as a way to honor the school’s past.
Level 3 nursing student Paul Dente is just one example.
“I feel so privileged to have taken classes with the professors we have at the Orvis School of Nursing,” said Dente, one of 47 such students in the school. Dente, an indefatigable dynamo, has worked furiously over the past few months to raise awareness for the school’s 50th anniversary celebration.
“They have really shaped me and helped me grow as an individual,” he said of his professors and of his time as a student in the school.
As Dente knows well, he carries with him 50 years of history. Fifty years of a significant impact on healthcare throughout northern Nevada and the state.
Here is a look at Orvis’ beginnings, its impact and its future.
History of the Orvis School
The Orvis School of Nursing was founded by Arthur and Mae Orvis at the University of Nevada in 1957. During a brief hospitalization in Reno, Arthur Orvis noticed an absence of student nurses and began asking questions.
Coincidentally, a survey being made on nursing needs and resources, initiated by the United States Public Health Service and the University of Nevada, was also being taken.
At the time of the survey, Nevada had 637 full-time nurses and indicated a deficit of nursing personnel. As a result of Orvis’ experience he became interested in initiating a program in nursing at the University.
On Dec. 15, 1955, Orvis wrote a letter to University President Minard W. Stout. In the letter Orvis said, “As mentioned to you on several occasions, I desire to give $100,000 to the University of Nevada for the establishment of a department to be known as the ‘Orvis School of Nursing.’ This is a free will offering with no strings attached.”
The Orvis School of Nursing opened its doors to 12 students in fall 1957. Five faculty, including Dean Doris Yingling, comprised the first nursing education unit.
Dorothy Button was the first faculty member hired by the school. She has been a Nevada resident for 53 years. She taught at Orvis for four years. She remembered that her salary was about $7,000
“Being the first faculty member was tough,” Button said. “It was like starting anything from scratch. The first class was very inclusive for that time. There was one African American student, one male student, one Asian student and nine white female students.”
A Quality Education
The Orvis School of Nursing prides itself on providing students with the highest quality education. Orvis offers a Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing (BSN), which emphasizes nursing research, nursing leadership and community health. These three aspects usually are not the focus of nursing associate degree programs. They traditionally focus on hospital nursing only.
With the emphasis on these three points and a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Orvis students have the opportunity to pursue careers as school nurses, industrial nurses or community health nurses and focus more on illness prevention and health promotion.
“My job as an educator is to build upon the skill set students bring to the classroom,” said Deborah Shindell, assistant nursing professor. “I challenge students to think about their biases and preconceived ideas. I believe the BSN is so important because it provides students with a general education in addition to a nursing education.”
Charles Bullock, dean of The College of Health and Human Sciences said, “Orvis is known for nursing quality and that is what makes me really proud.”
The Future of Nursing
The future is wide open for Orvis graduates, as Dente and others like him illustrate. They see their nursing degree not only as a new and exciting occupation, but as a calling.
“After graduation I plan on working at a local hospital in Reno for at least a year in the trauma intensive care unit,” he said. “I love the education system here at the University so I plan on pursuing my master’s degree to become a family nurse practitioner. Maybe I’ll even come back and teach.”
The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for both entry-level students and Registered Nurses. In addition, OSN offers a Master of Science in Nursing with the following options: Nurse Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner, Graduate Generalist. In conjunction with the School of Public Health, the Orvis School of Nursing offers a combined degree in nursing and public health, a Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health (MSN/MPH). Post-Master’s Certificates are also offered for the Nurse Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner options.
“Orvis graduates impact the entire state and are spread from the far south to the far north of Nevada. They are always out there and are some of the best nurses in our state,” Bullock said.
Jill Stockton is a communications director in University Communications.
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