Nancy J. Girard, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., retired as chair of the Department of Acute Nursing Care.
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After 48 years in the nursing profession, including 12 years as chair of the Department of Acute Nursing Care, Nancy J. Girard, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., retired as chair on Sept. 1. She will continue with the School of Nursing in an interim term as associate dean for undergraduate students.

Dr. Girard’s multifaceted career at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio includes expertise in patient education, perioperative nursing, clinical research, development of health care products and teaching.

It all began in her hometown of Lisbon, Ohio. “There was a school of nursing near my home, so I was aware of that educational opportunity,” Dr. Girard said. “I was always taking care of animals and people while growing up, so nursing seemed a natural thing to do. I entered the program, loved it and have never looked back.”

Enjoyed variety of opportunities in nursing
She started out in the operating room in Salem, Ohio, and it wasn’t long before she was head nurse. However, Dr. Girard saw that the nursing profession offered many opportunities. “Nursing is a unique career because there are so many sub-careers within the profession. When I wanted more than being an operating room nurse, which I still love, I went back to school and became a clinical nurse specialist, which I also still love. When I decided to teach, I got my Ph.D. and entered academia, which I also still love. When I wanted to do more, I went into administration, which encompasses all that I love. You could say that I have had four separate careers while still being a nurse. Who wouldn’t be excited about all the opportunities nursing provides?”

Began career as educator at Health Science Center
Dr. Girard earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1975 and her master’s in nursing in 1978 from the Health Science Center, where she began an extensive career in education. This is where she taught, developed courses and supervised the teaching of more than 100 graduate and undergraduate nursing courses. In 1989, Dr. Girard implemented at the Health Science Center the second perioperative clinical nurse specialist graduate program in the nation.

From 1982 through 1990, she held a challenging joint appointment as an educator and as a perioperative clinical nursing specialist at University Hospital. In 1993, she earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from The University of Texas at Austin. Two years later, in 1995, Dr. Girard was named chair of the Department of Acute Nursing Care.

Although she had many achievements, her career was not without challenges. “Some of the things I found most frustrating were the politics that sometimes challenged the ability to give optimal patient care, my desire to do things before they are possible to do and the hesitation of nurses to band together and speak from the same page to help the profession progress,” she said.

Her greatest accomplishment, she said, was her “leadership in developing outstanding practitioners, educators and scholars who can then continue to pass on the best to others.”

Mentor to colleagues
In an article for Tribute, a School of Nursing publication, Janis Rice, M.S.N., R.N., C.S., assistant clinical professor in acute nursing wrote, “(Dr. Girard’s) staff and faculty have always appreciated her calm guidance and ability to recognize talent in her faculty. She has encouraged novice educators to grow and succeed. From the beginning, Nancy has stimulated her faculty to enter the world of publication, to share their expertise and experience the benefits of that accomplishment.

“She astutely recognized individual abilities and suggested committee memberships that would foster academic growth,” Rice continued. “Dr. Girard modeled and supported scientific research efforts. She inspired faculty to achieve additional degrees and assisted their efforts. But more importantly, she listened to their concerns and she gave them a safe place to make mistakes so they could grow. Because of Dr. Girard’s leadership, the acute care department has initiated successful teaching strategies, fostered scientific research, acquired grants, implemented new curricula and published multiple noteworthy articles.”

International reputation
School of Nursing Dean Robin Froman, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., added, “Dr. Girard is a major figure with international recognition in nursing as the longtime editor of the AORN Journal, the largest-circulation journal for operating room nurses; a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing; and as a practicing clinician. I have consistently been impressed with her academic skill as well as her ability to mentor both faculty and students.”

Honors and awards
Among Dr. Girard’s honors are a Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence and an award for Excellence in Education, both from the Health Science Center; the Perioperative Academic Award for Teaching Excellence from the Association of Operating Room Nurses; and the Sigma Theta Tau Distinguished Writer award.

In 2007, Dr. Girard was named a South Texas Nurse Imagemaker by the Texas Nurses Association and the San Antonio chapter-at-large of Sigma Theta Tau.

One of the honors closest to her heart, however, is the Acute Nursing Care Honorary Chair. This is an actual university chair displayed in the office of a Health Science Center faculty member who exemplifies the ideals of the art and science of nursing. “These ideals are modeled by unrelenting and exceptional service to the profession, the university and the community as a nurse and educator,” Dean Froman said. “These ideals are exemplified by Dr. Girard.”

“I have loved being at the Health Science Center,” Dr. Girard said. “It is so dynamic and exciting and I have developed many wonderful colleagues in all of the schools. This has been the epitome of my career and I thank everyone here who has helped me along the way.”