Member Collaboration in Nu Rho Chapter: A History of the Nursing Schools of Nu Rho Chapter

This project is a collaborative effort among Nu Rho members to tell the histories of the schools that make up our At-Large-Chapter. An appreciation of the hard work of those who first formed our schools is acknowledged by these members who wrote of our early beginnings. Without these early beginnings, Nu Rho Chapter-At-Large would not exist as we know it today. We salute our history! A special thank you to Debbie Eno, Becke Voight, Shirley Retzlaff and Nancyruth Leibold who worked on this project!

Union College

Union College was the first college in Nebraska and in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination to offer a baccalaureate degree in nurse. The four-year program began in 1946 and graduated its first nursing class in 1949. With its principle clinical facility in Denver, it was distinguished as being one of the few nursing programs to have its campus in two different states. It was called the Union College School of Nursing but later it became the Division of Nursing. From the Program’s inception it was registered with the Colorado State Board of Nurse Examiners and by the Nebraska Bureau of Education and Registration of Nurses. In 1981 the Colorado campus was vacated and the entire program moved to Lincoln. The Nursing Program became a charter member of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Department of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs in 1952 and maintained continuous approval until 2001. In the spring of 2001, the Nursing Program was granted accreditation from the commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and continues to maintain that accreditation. (Union College history submitted by Nu Rho member: Debbie Eno)


Nebraska Wesleyan University

The RN-BSN nursing program at NWU started in 1982 with Dr. Patricia Morin as sole faculty member. Bonnie Zaroban was the second faculty member hired! Dr. Morin continued as Nursing Department Chair for 21 years until 2003. The NWU MSN program was developed and originated during her tenure. University College formed shortly after Dr. Morin resigned and Dr. Stacey Ocander was appointed Department Chair of the Health Sciences Department which included nursing and athletic training. Dr. Jeri Brandt was the Nursing Program Director. Nursing moved to Burt Hall where it resides presently with the other graduate programs, Forensic Science, History and Organizational Communication. The nursing programs are also offered in Omaha on the campus on 120th and L Streets. (Nebraska Wesleyan University submitted by Nu Rho member: Becke Voight)

BryanLGH College of Health Sciences

In 1922 William Jennings Bryan gave his home, Fairview, and surrounding land to the Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Church for the purpose of establishing a new hospital in Lincoln. With his gift and others, Bryan Memorial Hospital opened a 60 bed hospital on June 6, 1926. The Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing also opened in 1926 and enrolled 37 students during that year. Since that time, Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing has grown from a diploma in nursing program, into BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, granting baccalaureate and graduate degrees in nursing and health professions, The College continues to enjoy a close clinical partnership with BryanLGH Medical Center which is now a 620 bed regional healthcare center. The College has maintained the goal of clinical and academic excellence that was emphasized by its founders and continues to prepare nurses, healthcare professionals and lifelong learners with skills, awareness, interest and concern for health care and the human condition. (BryanLGH College of Health Science history submitted by Nu Rho member: Shirley Retzlaff)

(Historical writings by our esteemed Nu Rho members compiled and published by Nu Rho member: Nancyruth Leibold)

January 27, 2011