cause for thanksgiving
The last week of November sees our semester, and our year, winding to a close. Students will leave the campus, family and friends look forward to holidays and a new year, and COVID remains an unknown but with optimistic news about the possibility of a 2021 vaccine.
I am happy to say that our strategic planning process continued throughout and one of our greatest accomplishments was coming to a consensus about what marks The Marquette Nurse. I would like to take a look back at 2020 through the lens of those characteristics.
The Marquette Nurse is committed to:
Cura Personalis (care for the whole person in the Jesuit tradition) as a framework for practice. You can witness this commitment in a video featuring our working alumni during COVID that was produced by our colleagues in University Advancement.
Critical Thinking (deliberate and careful assessment of a situation using data and evidence to form an analysis and determine a course of action). Our dedicated and talented faculty definitely personified critical thinking skills in their reaction to educating students during a pandemic. Faculty creatively combined face-to-face, hybrid and on-line instruction to provide excellence in education and were tireless in reaching out individually to those who were quarantined, tested positive or struggling in any manner.
A Faithful Voice when Advocating for the Vulnerable (partnering with those who need a voice or action toward a valued cause). The Next Step Clinic, a nonprofit in which several members of our research faculty are involved, received a Nonprofit of the Year award.
Leadership (influence by clarifying direction, engaging others and supporting progress toward goals despite obstacles). We continue to provide leadership development opportunities for faculty, students, staff and the community. A virtual fall leadership community presentation, Building Cultures of Innovation: Leading through Crisis, was led by Dr. Dan Weberg, an internationally recognized nurse leader and author. Several breakout sessions were held for faculty and students. The biennial James Wake Memorial Lecture, held earlier in November, focused on the topic of Amplifying the Child and Family Voice in Pediatric Serious Illness, presented by Dr. Joanne Wolfe, Division Chief of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director of Palliative Care at Boston Children's Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. The Wake Lecture attracted more than 300 registrants from 30 states and 8 countries. In addition, University Advancement is hosting webinars for each of the 6 Big Ideas from our strategic plan. The first, Being the Difference: The Marquette Nurse and Equity and Inclusion, was held October 27. The next, Being the Difference: The Marquette Nurse and Teaching Excellence, is tentatively scheduled for January 19, 2021. Invitations will be sent to all alumni as webinars are scheduled.
Passionate Champion for Social Justice (relentless pursuit of a just cause, despite barriers and challenges, locally and beyond). Several of our students in community health served in the Milwaukee Health Department and on campus in the call centers to answer COVID questions, testing concerns and assist with contact tracing. The recently published Marquette Magazine included some nursing highlights featuring faculty member Dr. Callie Chiroff and student Citali Aviles. We are also working to place a nurse faculty in residence in one of our near west side partner schools, as well as creating a community engaged research team to work with our near west side partners.
The year comes to a close and we have much to celebrate. Our students were able to remain on campus for the entire semester and our fabulous clinical partners in health systems and hospitals allowed student clinicals to continue. We are graced with dedicated and creative faculty and staff who continue the work of the college from remote locations under stressful circumstances.
We are blessed and we wish blessings for you in these upcoming months. Through the uncertainty and opportunity and frustration and unexpected joy, know that you are The Marquette Nurse and you can Be the Difference.
Sincerely,
Dr. Janet Wessel Krejci
Dean, Marquette University College of Nursing
