On September 17, the 1975 graduating class of the Concord Hospital School of Nursing held its 50th reunion at the Kimball Jenkins Estate in Concord. Traveling in from nine states, 23 of the 34 graduates attended the festivities.
Though most are retired now, these nurses practiced in a variety of fields and specialties throughout the country. Many brought their expertise to two or three fields of nursing throughout their respective careers. These ranged from hospital-based staff nursing in pediatrics and NICU, critical care, medical/surgical, rehabilitation, cardiology, emergency medicine, orthopedics and obstetrics to community-based care in physician offices, outpatient surgical facilities and schools. Multiple colleagues worked administratively in leadership positions; several achieved advanced degrees in clinical and business. Individually, they exemplified the six core nursing attributes represented by the white pearlescent buttons that adorned their cherished nursing caps: charity, fidelity, humility, integrity, empathy and geniality.
The School of Nursing, in all of its iterations, produced hundreds of stellar nurses until its closure in 1989. For most of its history, the students were female, but in 1970 it began accepting male students into the program. By 1972, it was considered one of the top five nursing programs of its kind in the country.
Today, Bachelor of Science and associate degree programs are the gateways into the nursing profession. Concord leaves a wonderful legacy through its school of nursing. Like the reunion, it was an experience this small group of women will never forget.