Did you tune in to our virtual homecoming celebration on October 24, 2020? Even though we weren’t able to host an in-person event due to COVID-19, we took our longstanding school tradition and brought it online. Did you tune in to our virtual homecoming celebration on October 24, 2020? Even though we weren’t able to host an in-person event due to COVID-19, we took our longstanding school tradition and brought it online.
We were especially excited to welcome our special guest speaker: Dr. Angelleen Peters-Lewis, RN, PhD, FAAN, the COO & Chief Nurse Executive at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Peters-Lewis was recently inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and recognized as one of modern healthcare’s minority leaders to watch.
Recap: Nurses’ Voice Program
The coronavirus pandemic presents us with an opportunity to talk about one of our most important tools: the nurses’ voice. As the world has come to recognize our crucial role in their lives, we have a platform to speak up for ourselves, each other, and our patients like never before.
To kick off Homecoming 2020, we hosted the Nurse’s Voice Program on Facebook to broadcast special messages, speakers, and even a musical guest!
President and Professor Nancy Ridenour, PhD, RN, APRN, BC, FAAN, got the event started by describing the ways the school has transformed itself to move online and become stronger for it. “As Goldfarb forges the path of becoming a school of distinction, we remain resilient.”
“Your voice is being heard.”
Next, Dr. Jennifer Tice Williams, Chair of the Alumni Advisory Council, introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Angelleen Peters-Lewis. Tune into the talk starting at 4:15 in the recorded video. She shares a powerful message for everyone in the nursing community in these trying times and connects the work of Florence Nightingale with the role of nurses in today’s challenging times:
“Like many of us right now, Florence Nightingale served during the Korean War, a difficult time in history, promoting good outcomes and transforming care. A compassionate healthcare pioneer, she devoted her life to reducing disease and was especially focused on the care and nurturing of the poor. Today, we call them the underserved. This pandemic has illuminated nurses’ vital role in assisting underserved communities and mitigating the social determinants of health. For voiceless patients, nurses are often their voice. For those of you who are practicing, leading, educating, supporting: thank you. Your voice is being heard.”
Celebrating Our Community
The remainder of the Nurses’ Voice Program is a rich diversity of voices that you don’t want to miss. Check out the following timestamps in the recording to hear from and celebrate the members of our Goldfarb family.
12:05 – Meet this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners, Jean Von Hoffman, RN, School Nurse (Class of 1964) and Linda Urden (Class of 1969).
18:00 – Sit back and enjoy musical guest Jeremy Taylor Sr., a COVID-19 survivor, as he performs “Get Here” by Oleta Adams.
22:30 – Honor the memory of the classmates, faculty and friends we’ve lost over the past year.
25:30 – Listen to the voices of current students, alumni and faculty as they answer questions like “Why did you choose Goldfarb?” and “What does it mean to be a part of the Goldfarb family?” and “What does nurses’ voice mean to you?”
One student, Madison Sell, answers the final question in this way:
“I’ve spoken a lot of advocating, and that’s what the nurses’ voice means to me. We must advocate for ourselves as future professionals, advocate for those who are the most vulnerable, and advocate for our future patients. Nurses serve as distinguished members of the community and vital components of the interdisciplinary team. Developing the nurses’ voice is the foundation of the nursing practice.”
Online Festivities
Before signing off, our Director of Alumni Affairs, June Cowell-Oates, EDD, LPC, LCSW, CEAP, makes an appearance to encourage everyone to participate in the other online activities that were offered for homecoming this year. From an online scavenger hunt and guided meditation to a virtual paint party (check out the results!) and photo montage, there was a lot to do throughout the day from the comfort of home.
Share Your Voice
If you tuned in to our program live or after the fact, how did it go? We want your feedback on virtual homecoming in a quick online survey. Thank you for joining us and keeping our Goldfarb family and friends connected!
