Graduation Celebration 2023

Congratulations to all our 2023 graduates! Welcome to the UW Nurses Alumni Organization, or “UW NAO,” of which you are all members as graduates of UW–Madison School of Nursing. We would like you all to take your dominant hand to your forehead; now swipe it across your forehead…whew! And if you are really feeling good about yourself, reach over and pat yourself on the back. We are certain many of you are feeling relieved and gratified to have completed this very important journey. It is a pleasure for us to welcome you as you head into the next phase of your lives as health care professionals, scholars, practitioners and hopefully, some of you as future teachers! 

The UW NAO is open to all Badger nursing graduates and supports activities that benefit nursing students at all levels in their educational preparation. Our primary function is to connect alums with each other through social and career enhancing functions. All of NAO’s funds raised are given away each year in the form of scholarships. We hope that once the dust settles and you are immersed in whatever new role you are headed for, that you will consider becoming involved in NAO activities, either by attending one of our functions, participating in a committee, mentoring new-to-practice graduates, and when possible, providing financial support to our school. The School of Nursing website does have a section devoted to NAO activities, and we encourage you to check us out! 

We believe it is truly a great time to be a nurse. There are positions and settings to work in and populations to work with that were never imagined even 10 years ago. Every day, society is privileged to observe nurses who are doing amazing and meaningful work—some who are 22 years old and some who are 100 years old. What we hope is that you will look back on the years you spent here…well, maybe not now, and understand the privilege of being a UW-Madison graduate. As Badger nurses ourselves, we are certain that you are prepared to address complex health problems in innovative ways, strive to improve health outcomes, and will continue to challenge yourselves to be lifelong learners, clinicians, and researchers. Again, congratulations. On behalf of the UW Nurses Alumni Organization, we welcome you to our organization. Please keep in touch. 

Congratulations, Class of 2023! You’ve made it through four years of rigorous preparation for a nursing career that has been a central part of our lives for the past 50 years. You’ve accomplished this amid a global pandemic, demands for social justice, and a period of extreme political polarization.   

Our years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1970-1973, were also times of fear, political turmoil, and social unrest and violence in the streets. We remember bearing witness to the Civil Rights Movement, assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, and experiencing the National Guard and police in riot gear on campus. We also can’t forget the bombing of Sterling Hall. These issues added significant stress during our nursing education as they have added to yours. However, navigating these issues also provided opportunities for growth and personal development. Nursing’s holistic philosophy of body, mind, and spirit demands personal exploration of these domains. The societal issues we’ve navigated during our respective nursing educational experience provided a unique context for this self-reflection.   

We, the Class of 1973, are confident that you will carry this personal exploration and philosophy forward into your nursing careers. You will be better human beings and compassionate nurses for having endured these tumultuous times and embraced these existential issues during your nursing education.  

We have compiled a list of short words of wisdom we’ve gained over 50 years: 

• Nurses are change agents.
• As graduates of the UW- Madison School of Nursing, we are all leaders, capable of critical thinking and problem solving, prepared to make a difference.
• Partner with your patients and families as part of their team. Educate so they understand and are empowered to manage their health and care.
• Stand by your actions when you are confident in your knowledge base and experience.Never be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it.
• Listen to those around you who have sound insight and perspective. They can help you modify your approach to create a better result or outcome.
• Develop collegial relationships with all levels of care providers—from nursing assistants to physicians. Everyone has a part to play in providing comprehensive care to patients, and, generally, the RN is the glue that holds it all together!
• Encourage active participation in decision making by providing the education that patients need to weigh the pros/cons of treatment options. Things are complex and there is seldom only one option to achieve a goal.
• When physicians have exhausted treatments to offer a patient, nurses are still able to give individualized care and emotional support.
• Two words to eliminate from your vocabulary when working: NEVER and ALWAYS.
• Be flexible, change is a constant.
• Be a lifelong learner. The science of medicine/nursing/pharmaceuticals is constantly growing. You can’t know everything, but you can always go to the literature for evidence- based practice.
• Participate in professional organizations. The networking and support opportunities that they provide are invaluable.
• Mentor the next generation of nurses; you have wisdom to share.
• Celebrate your role wherever you serve. You may not be able to change everything but you can make a difference in lives and communities.

You have the tools and abilities to accomplish your dreams. Go forth and sort the wheat from the chaff. We wish you all the best as you graduate and hope that you can look back 50 years from now and be as proud of your alma mater and the preparation you received as we are.  

–Members of the UW–Madison School of Nursing Class of 1973: Linda Ballenger, Barbara Notstad Bergum, Ann Haase Kehl, Carolyn Krause, Margaret Malnory, Barb Day Pinekenstein, Mary Schlosser Schumann, Karen Solheim, and Peggy Dott Zimdars