The Healer’s Art: A Celebration of the College of Nursing

Background on Nursing

In 1952, the first class entered the Brigham Young University nursing program. It has been a dynamic and productive six decades of providing nursing education. Our wonderful students have made us proud as they have “gone forth to serve” in noble and responsible positions across the world.

Gordon B. Hinckley’s statement to women at the 1985 Relief Society Conference (it applies to men as well. [It] is a great privilege and opportunity you have. This is the opportunity and the encouragement to educate your minds and hands, to refine your talents, and to so qualify yourself to work in the society in which you will live.

Planning for the 60^th anniversary celebration began four years ago. The idea of a book on the College of Nursing took shape as a way of recording our history and recognizing the great effort that faculty, students, and staff have put forth to create the present environment for learning. Initially the nursing program offered a Bachelor of Science degree, and later added an Associate Degree. However, after quite a few years, the associate degree was discontinued and the generic baccalaureate program remained. In 1975 the first nursing graduate program was started. Today the college offers a Master’s of Science degree and the program prepares family nurse practitioners.

This display has given the College of Nursing the opportunity to more richly display who we are and our history. We couldn’t display everything, so this is only a glimpse of some of the items that describe our history. We hope that you will come and view this collection of the history of the College of Nursing. Former dean, Elaine Marshall compiled the Brigham Young University, College of Nursing history Learning the Healer’s Art: Nursing Education at Brigham Young University.