Nursing Artifacts Donated By Ruth Hunter '51
Nursing pins have held an important significance to nurses for more than a thousand years. It is a symbol of the knowledge and dedication it takes to become a nurse. Like mentioned in "The Nursing Pin" by Evelyn Lantz, she describes the different parts of our specific Illinois Wesleyan nursing pin. This includes the Cross of St. George which stands for unselfish service. This lays in a pattee cross which symbolizes a shield to protect the helpless. The blue circle surrounding the crosses stands for truth and loyalty in a never-ending circle. The other pins donated by Ruth Hunter ‘51 are service pins, most likely signifying the four years of service completed at the Brokaw School of Nursing.
Previously, Wesleyan was associated with the Methodist Church which is illustrated by the gifting of the Gideon Bible to nursing students when they started at Wesleyan. Currently, Wesleyan is no longer affiliated with the Methodist Church and bibles are no longer given to students in their first year. However, some religious symbols are still present to this day, like the crosses on the nursing pin.
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The Nursing Pin by Evelyn Lantz, Class of 1941
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The Nursing Pin Today
The Nursing Pinning Ceremony is still an important right of passage for nurses today at Illinois Wesleyan University. It signifies the completion of this level of education and official initiation into the profession. Even during the Covid-19 Pandemic, we worked to make this initiation possible!
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