Master of Nursing grads reunite after 25 years

Members of the MN Class of 1983
(L-R): Barb Shellian, Glenda Labelle, Joan MacPherson, Judy Hanson and Ursula Dawe. (Missing: Fabie Duhamel and Ruth Zenger.)

 

 

By Karen Cook

It was a small but mighty reunion at the Faculty of Nursing Alumni Committee’s annual lunch earlier this year at the Calgary Winter Club. Five of the seven members of the first Master of Nursing class—or the “seven dwarfs,” as they called themselves—reunited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their graduation. Judith Hanson, nursing professor, faculty alumni president and graduate of the Class of ’83, remembers that at one time many in the profession questioned the need for advanced practice nurses.

“When I started the MN program, I had two young daughters and there were people in the business world—and even some of my work colleagues—who couldn’t understand why I needed to pursue an advanced degree,” she says. “In fact, some asked if my marriage was OK!” Hanson wanted to take the program because she knew it would enable her to be a nurse leader who could influence the role of nurses at the bedside. “When you look at the accomplishments and the great impact that my six fellow graduates and I have had on the community as a whole, the MN program has been extremely successful.”

Classmate Ursula Dawe, who went on to complete a PhD in medical science, agrees. “I wanted to be in a position to create and encourage excellence, innovation and change through knowledge-based leadership. I really valued being part of a very small group of students supported by a small, but exceptional core faculty, and the flexibility inherent in a new program that had yet to establish its own culture.”

Dawe says the program was a model of adult education because it required students to develop a great deal of independence, self-direction, self-knowledge and motivation. At a time when there were few computers and library searches took hours, the group thrived on sharing the pioneer spirit of the developing program.

Grad Barbara Shellian recalls her commute from Canmore: “220 kilometres every day; just me and the truckers on the road in the early morning hours!”

Shellian says it was worth it. “I was able to focus on specific areas that were of interest to me; to immerse myself in clinical practice, respectful discussion and examination of practice issues.”