The Helene Fuld College of Nursing celebrated National Nurses Week with a reception and book signing on May 9 and commencement speech at the May 10 graduation ceremony with journalist and author Sarah DiGregorio. Nurses Week, which runs from May 6 to 12, is one part of the larger Nurses Month and recognizes the service and dedication of nurses as well as highlighting their dedication to their patients and the larger community. DiGregorio recently published the book “Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change the World.” The AmNews covered DiGregorio’s book signing on May 9 and spoke with her and several of the school’s leaders about the legacy of Helene Fuld College of Nursing, the importance of the book, and the future of nursing.
According to president and CEO of the nursing school Joyce Griffin-Sobel in an interview at the book signing with the AmNews, it was important to have DiGregorio speak to the student body.
“We have brought in a journalist [Sarah DiGreggorio] who wrote this amazing book ‘Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World’ about nurses, particularly talking about nurses that never got any kind of recognition through the years,” she said.
Board chair James C. Frauenthal continued with this theme, stating to the AmNews that “it’s important that people know about us and we do such important things and such good work for a lot of people that it’s nice when we’re recognized. We’ve been in the community for almost 80 years…we’ve graduated thousands of nurses who do great work.”
Michele Flynch, associate professor director, Generic Bachelor of Science (GBS) and assistant dean of professional development and leadership told the AmNews that “Sarah DiGreggorio’s ‘Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World’ offers a profound exploration of the critical role nursing plays not just within healthcare settings but in shaping societal health outcomes. Her insights are invaluable for our students at Helene Fuld College of Nursing because they underscore the depth and breadth of nursing’s impact. By sharing her book with our community, she provides a unique lens through which our students can view their future profession—a lens that magnifies the profound connections between personal patient care and global health trends.
Flynch pointed out the importance of highlighting accomplishments of nurses and the work they do on a daily basis, stating to the AmNews that “DiGreggorio’s narratives about the challenges and triumphs in nursing resonate deeply with our educational philosophy, which emphasizes resilience, innovation, and empathy. Her discussion will not only inspire our students but also reaffirm their commitment to the nursing profession. It will also encourage them to think critically about their potential to influence and transform healthcare through compassionate, informed practice. Hosting an author and advocate like DiGreggorio enriches the academic environment, allowing students to engage with contemporary issues in healthcare through the powerful stories of nurses themselves. This aligns seamlessly with our goal to develop knowledgeable, thoughtful, and proactive healthcare professionals.”
President Griffin agreed, stating that “our students need exposure to the world around them. There’s so much depth to this book about the nurses in their own community. I wanted to make sure that our students were exposed to it. We gave them all a book…We want them to have this kind of exposure.”
As to the future, DiGregorio said that “my hope for the book is that it will help people understand the power of nursing and how nurses have used their insight and knowledge throughout time to create more justice and more health in their communities. The reason I am so happy to be here is I know that this college is serving this community providing a pathway to really excellent careers for people and also we need more nurses at the moment registered nursing is disproportionately white and it’s a problem because everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the people caring for them so I am happy that this college is contributing to diversifying the nursing workforce and I think the work they do here is really important.”
To learn more about the history of the Helene Fuld College of Nursing, please visit: https://www.helenefuld.edu/about-the-college/.