A Wayne Community College student group will host a talk on the history of nursing in North Carolina.
The WCC Association of Nursing Students is bringing Dr. Phoebe A. Pollitt, an associate professor of nursing at Appalachian State University, to speak on the campus at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Dr. Phoebe Pollitt
The public is invited to this free presentation which will be held in Room 101 of the Walnut Building on the college’s main campus in Goldsboro.
Dr. Pollitt will discuss her work as a nursing historian and North Carolina’s rich nursing history, giving particular attention to pioneering nurses and contributions of various cultures.
“Our profession has been built and enriched by amazing women and men under many trying circumstances and I want to share their inspirational stories and encourage others to pursue a career in nursing,” she said.
Dr. Pollitt acknowledges that her fascination with nursing and history has created a unique niche. “I have been very lucky to be able to combine both of my professional passions,” she said.
“When I was in college I had a job in the university library as the ‘clippings girl’ in the North Carolina Collection where I got to read all the major daily newspapers in the state and cut out articles I thought future researchers of N.C. history might want to read,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to be a nurse, but that work experience sparked an interest in N.C. history.”
Dr. Pollitt appeared in the UNC-TV documentary video “North Carolina Nurses: A Century of Caring” which received state and national acclaim. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her professional and volunteer work including a $30,000 Nursing Educators for Tomorrow Award.
Dr. Pollitt holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and master’s degrees in education from Appalachian State University and in nursing from East Carolina University. She earned a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was an Excellence Fellowship recipient.
She practiced public health nursing for more than 20 years in Watauga County, N.C. working at the health department and as the first and only school nurse/health education coordinator in the county for 15 years.
The WCC Association of Nursing promotes the professional and personal development of student nurses, provides an avenue to enhance nursing education, and provides opportunities for community involvement. The organization achieves its goals through learning opportunities, collaboration with a variety of disciplines, and providing service to people and organizations in the community and on the college campus.
WCCANS has adopted nursing history and cultural diversity as its theme this year. In addition to sponsoring this talk, it is planning an educational trip to visit the National Museum of Nursing History and other historical sites in Philadelphia, PA. and explore Amish culture in Lancaster, PA.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
Wayne Community College’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
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