Robin Froman, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing, and Louise Beldon, chair of the Nursing Advisory Council, accept a proclamation presented by Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, honoring the “most respected profession in the United States – nursing.”
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The Health Science Center’s School of Nursing celebrated National Nurses’ Week on May 10 with a luncheon for 300 nurses, nurse educators and community leaders at Oak Hills Country Club. The honored guests included former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., Sam Barshop, Louise Beldon, and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who along with County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson presented a county proclamation honoring the “most respected profession in the United States – nursing.”

Robin Froman, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing, introduced Ms. Beldon, who chairs the school’s Nursing Advisory Council. She recognized members of the Council, which has recently raised $30,000 for the School of Nursing, and stressed the need for funding to recruit nursing faculty members to meet the growing demand for professionally educated, high-quality nurses.

“We have a new faculty member coming from UT Austin, in part because of an endowment for a distinguished professorship made possible by a $100,000 gift from Ronald and Karen Herrmann,” Ms. Beldon said.

Nurses are expected to be honest, trustworthy and skilled as they touch countless lives. “Nurses are indispensable – from the start of life to the very end of life,” Dean Froman said.

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center, praised the distinguished record of the School of Nursing and noted the school is active in education, research and uncompensated care. “Nurses are indispensable in making this world a healthier place,” Dr. Cigarroa said, agreeing with Dean Froman. “I could not do my job as a surgeon without the very knowledgeable, caring, skilled nurses around me.”

Judge Wolff said he is proud of the county’s University Hospital and its use as a clinical education ground for nurses. “The residents of San Antonio celebrate nurses’ contributions not just during this week but at every opportunity during the year,” he said.

School of Nursing alumna Robin Ford Dillard of the Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice presented the keynote address.

“We want to give something back to the community by way of sharing the knowledge we have,” Dr. Froman said. She introduced the guest speaker, School of Nursing alumna Robin Ford Dillard of the Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice, who discussed hospice care and making decisions for a loved one who may have a short time to live, may be in constant pain, and may not be aware of his or her surroundings.

“Difficult end-of-life decisions are best made when patients and families understand their choices,” Dillard said. “Hospice care is one of those choices.”

She said the legacy of Florida patient Terri Schiavo will be that her life and death ignited a national conversation about end-of-life issues.

“The philosophy of all hospices is to accept death as a natural part of life, neither to accelerate it or to slow it, and to enable patients to live out their last days to the fullest they can,” she said. “It is a noble philosophy.”