I have just read an article by Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. in the March 2002 Advisor, www.tscl.org/NewContent/101352.asp.  It concerns The Nurse Reinvestment Act.  I should like to tell my story.

I was a nurse in 1954.  I had 4 children, the youngest in diapers.  My husband was a minister building a church in Clawson, Mi.  One morning, our director of nursing at Harper Hospital asked if any one was interested in getting a Master's degree.  At that time there were only 400 nurses with master's degrees in the whole nation.  I was teaching at Harper but only had a bachelor's degree.  I said I was interested, but I was told I was crazy to pursue education with four children and our busy life.  However, our director of nursing let me apply to Wayne State University.

Several others heard from WSU but I did not.  I decided I would just stay home and be a mother.  One day shortly thereafter, a counselor from Wayne called.  She said the committee had met the night before and decided to offer me the scholarship.  I would be getting as much as I was making plus enough for a baby sitter which was $3600 plus books. 

I said, "Thanks, but 'no thanks.'  I am sure there are younger nurses who would better get the opportunity."  She gave me 24 hours to think about it, saying the committee felt my influence in the parsonage would be a real influence on young people in the church and there was a real nursing shortage.

My husband and I decided to accept and I was able to complete my degree in one and a half  years.  It took a lot of hard work and tears.  I once decided to quit as the ladies were fussing that my children were neglected.  My counselor said, "You will not be as good a mother, preacher's wife, etc. this year, but you will be glad you did the rest of your life."

I am now 82 years old.  My husband's role as minister has taken us to several states and I have always found work that was helpful to the profession as well as to my family.  I was able to step into the position of Director of Nursing in Highland Park Community College, Highland Park, Michigan.  This school served a group of students who have served the inner-city.

We moved near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan where there was only a small hospital.  Dr. Ken Shouldice saw the need for a school but could not find anyone prepared to come up there.  His dream came true when we obtained a federal grant and were able to start a school in that city.  We bought an 18-passenger van and took our students to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario each day for their clinical practice.  To my knowledge, it was the only U.S. school to use Canada for clinical facilities.  That school is now a well-known generic four-year program which has produced many nurses throughout the Upper Peninsula as well as other areas.  They had their 25th anniversary this summer.  At the time, The State Board felt we would never find 30 students in those "boonies" interested in nursing!

I wanted to tell my story so you would see the value of funding young people to go into nursing, as well as the faculty to teach them.  I have had a long and fulfilling career.  I taught nursing over 35 years.  My daughter has a doctorate in nursing and teaches at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.  My daughter-in-law has a doctorate in nursing and is a full professor at Wayne State University.  She also has a clinic at Detroit Receiving Hospital serving drug and AIDS patients.  Two other daughter-in-laws are nurses.  IT DOES PAY!

God bless your efforts and please give it all you can!

April 2002