INDIANAPOLIS — After five decades, Cheryl Hansell says nursing is "light years different," but one thing has stayed the same — the letter she wrote as a graduating senior in the 1972 IU School of Nursing Class.
On Friday, IU nursing faculty, staff, students and alumni unveiled what was inside the 1972 time capsule, which was located in the entryway of the School of Nursing Building at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
Included in the time capsule was Hansell's letter projecting what IU nursing would be like in 2022.
"I think the technology has changed everything. It's gone from handwritten paper, if you copied it it was carbon paper. There were no Xerox machines," Hansell said. "The whole concept of the nurse has changed ... nurses have so much more involvement in patient care now."
Hansell says when she started, nurses didn't have stethoscopes and couldn't draw blood or start IVs. She went on to have a 30 year nursing career before retiring.
Other items in the time capsule included:
- A nursing cap and pin
- Newspaper clippings about the school
- Photographs of nursing students in their uniforms
- School newsletters and other announcements
"I think over the next 50 years we are going to see some remarkable things that create an impact to patients, to populations [and] to healthcare," Robin Newhouse, dean of the IU School of Nursing, said. "Nurses are important to the community because they are really the backbone of the healthcare system."
Contents of the time capsule will be managed and preserved by IU archivists.
-
Caitlin Clark, Fever assistant coach visit NICU families at PMCH
Earlier this month, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and assistant coach Tully Bevilaqua visited families who are staying in the hospital after their child’s premature birth.Legislation passed to give schools resources to teach online safety
The legislation is something Joann Bogard advocated for after her son, Mason, died attempting a viral and dangerous online challenge.IPS addressing concerns about its new background check, volunteer process
The process is causing some parents to voice frustration about potential language and technology barriers, while others are concerned about the cost.Family remembers owner of Indy restaurant killed after dispute over money
George Nelson Sr., owner of Pa and Ma's Backyard BBQ restaurant, was fatally shot on Wednesday. His family, along with community members, are coming together to honor his memory.