2016-2017

News Release

REF NO.: 27

SUBJECT: Opening of simulation space to highlight School of Nursing 50th anniversary

DATE: October 11, 2016

Memorial University’s School of Nursing is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend with more than 250 of its closest friends.

Alumni, retired faculty and staff members from across the province, the country and from as far away as New Zealand and Qatar are getting together for the school’s 50th anniversary gala on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s.

Since 1966 the school has been preparing nurses for careers in this province and beyond, and School of Nursing graduates are in wide demand. The school has produced many nursing leaders, some who will attend Friday evening’s gala and a special 50th Anniversary Open House on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 2-4 p.m. at the School of Nursing in the Health Sciences Centre.

The official opening of the Cahill Nursing Simulation Room is a highlight of the open house; it’s a new space that provides nursing students with more opportunities to practise their clinical skills and knowledge to help them gain expertise in working with patients, clients, residents and family members.

“It gives me great pleasure to take part in the opening of our new simulation centre,” said Dr. Alice Gaudine, dean, School of Nursing. “For the past 50 years, we have worked to develop new curricula and new ways of teaching to meet the evolving needs of our students. The Cahill Nursing Simulation Centre will give them access to the most current learning technologies and strategies.”

The Cahill Nursing Simulation Room is named after Doreen (Power) Cahill, an alumna from the Class of ’79 and a former nursing faculty member at the School of Nursing, who has maintained a strong interest in nursing and nursing students over the years.

“We thank Mrs. Cahill for this generous gift and her interest in the education of our students,” said Dr. Gaudine.

The opening of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) collaboration site will also take place during the open house. The Joanna Briggs Institute is based at Adelaide University in Australia and is a worldwide collaboration for conducting systematic reviews of nursing research to translate knowledge into best nursing practice.

“We know that our work associated with JBI and with the new Cahill Nursing Simulation Centre will make important contributions to patient care and student learning,” said Dr. Gaudine. 

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