We Celebrate Helping Those in Need

Faculty members from the four schools of nursing in Nicaragua gather for a workshop, Greater Methods of Teaching Nursing, held at the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua on March 4, 1974. The workshop was conducted by UW–Madison School of Nursing faculty members Joanne Conger, MSN (far right), and Betty Johnson, PhD.
Faculty members from the four schools of nursing in Nicaragua gather for a workshop, Greater Methods of Teaching Nursing, held at the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua on March 4, 1974. The workshop was conducted by UW–Madison School of Nursing faculty members Joanne Conger, MSN (far right), and Betty Johnson, PhD (second row, third from right).

Almost from the start of the UW–Madison School of Nursing, many nursing students have been interested in international aspects of nursing. Thus, when an opportunity to be of assistance to nurses in another country presented itself in the 1970s, students, faculty, and alumni all became involved.

Faculty members from the four schools of nursing in Nicaragua attend a workshop, Greater Methods of Teaching Nursing, held at the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua on March 4, 1974.
Faculty members from the four schools of nursing in Nicaragua attend a workshop, Greater Methods of Teaching Nursing, held at the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua on March 4, 1974.

Early in the spring of 1973, faculty of the School of Nursing became aware of the plight of the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua, which at the time prepared 50 percent of the country’s professional nurses. The school was completely destroyed by a disastrous earthquake which struck the city on December 23, 1972. Rebuilding the school’s library was seen as a high priority item for the school, and the UW–Madison School of Nursing community set a goal to raise $10,000 for this purpose.

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni contributed to the fund, and encouraged other Wisconsin nurses to help. Students, in particular the members of the Alpha Tau Delta service fraternity, participated in several money-raising projects to aid the cause.

As part of the fundraising efforts, the School sponsored a dog show, called Canine Capers, which netted nearly $1,800.

In the spring of 1974, two faculty members, Joanne Conger, MSN, and Betty Johnson, PhD, flew to Managua to offer a two-week workshop for the faculty of Nicaragua’s four schools of nursing. In addition, over the summer, two students went to Nicaragua for a six-week immersive clinical experience in international health — the first undergraduate nurses in the School of Nursing to do such a thing.

MacIntosh "Mac" Wellington Heath, the School of Nursing's unofficial mascot, sits with his owner Betty Johnson.
MacIntosh “Mac” Wellington Heath.

Unofficial Mascots

We love Bucky Badger, but have a special place in our hearts for MacIntosh “Mac” Wellington Heath. Mac, a tricolor collie belonging to then-Assistant Professor Betty Johnson, PhD, became the School of Nursing’s unofficial mascot on September 30, 1973, at the Canine Caper Benefit dog show.

Canine Capers was held at the Stock Pavilion on the Madison campus. In addition to the dog show, there was a bean bag toss, crafts for sale, and other concession booths.

The entry fee for the dog show was $10 per canine for faculty members and adults, and $3 for students. Admission for those who wished to attend was $1 for adults, and .50 cents for children and students, and .25 cents for children under six.

Faculty, staff, students, and others entered a total of 40 dogs into the dog show. The event raised a total of $1,741.57 for the fund, which was later presented to the National School of Nursing in Managua, Nicaragua and assisted in the rebuilding of the school’s library.

Student Nurses Association Raises Funds to Aid Haiti Earthquake Relief

A dance group wearing red t-shirts and black pants are shown mid-leap at the Rock for Haiti benefit performance.
A dance group performs at the Rock for Haiti benefit.

In 2010, the UW–Madison School of Nursing once again stepped up to aid those in need after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010. To help with relief efforts, the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) held a benefit concert at the Memorial Union in March called “Rock for Haiti.” The event featured four bands and three dance groups who donated their time for the performance. The event aimed to raise money for Partners in Health (PIH), a nonprofit organization that was providing medical supplies and services to the people of Haiti.

In addition to the concert, the SNA social committee also raised funds through a bagel sale in the Health Sciences Learning Center, sought out donations from area businesses, and encouraged friends and family members to make contributions to PIH.