Nancy Fahrenwald

Nurses: Answering the Call

As Dean of the College of Nursing at Texas A&M University it is my privilege to share a reflection on the noble profession of nursing as we celebrate Nurses Week 2022. To all of the current, past and future members of the profession, thank you! We celebrate your individual accomplishments and your contributions to the greater good of human health and quality of life. You make a difference in the lives of every person who is, was, or will be under your care.

Martin Luther King said that “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” Thank you for your professionalism and your selfless service as a member of the most trusted of all the professions. Your service to individuals, families, and communities deserves our recognition and gratitude. As nurses, we share a deep respect for human dignity, which drives us to serve as advocates for those whose voices need to be represented in health care decisions. Our acts of service go beyond the direct care patient experience, they are expressed in our role as members of the profession.

Texas A&M University College of Nursing celebrates all future and current nurses. We are working together with our health system partners to assure that the nurses we educate meet the workforce needs of employers, with an added value. Our students and faculty are committed to the Aggie core values of Respect, Leadership, Excellence, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service. These values are the very core of our culture. Aggie nurses make a difference in their communities beyond their employment role. They serve their communities and their profession in ways that improve the health of the people of Texas and the nation, they research topics that truly impact the health and well-being of rural and underserved populations, and they go the extra mile when it comes to professionalism.

This year, the College of Nursing was received a generous philanthropic gift of seventy-five thousand dollars to support a three year initiative entitled, “The Good Samaritan Foundation Pathways to Professionalism Program.” Our students will be supported to develop an even stronger professional identity and to engage with professional practice and communities as volunteers. Through the funding we will develop a new event to take place in the greater Bryan/College Station area that resembles A&M’s big event, only this new endeavor is focused on health. We will foster ethical practice by establishing the Aggie Core Value Recognition program that awards coins based on exemplary demonstration of the core values by our students, faculty, and staff. We will focus our efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion activities that strengthen our climate and promote a sense of belonging among all of the members of our college community. This program will support and prepare our students to be lifelong learners, leaders in the profession, and exemplary role models.

To all the nurses, I ask that you continue your quest for knowledge and pursue excellence in whatever role you fill professionally. Be a life-long learner, to sharpen your skills, maintain a positive outlook and a spirit of joy. Care for yourself so that you can be there when others need you. Happy Nurses Week!