CLARKSON COLLEGE HISTORICAL
BACKGROUNDER
What is now known
as Clarkson College began with the dream of Bishop Robert H. Clarkson in the
late 1800s to establish a hospital in Nebraska. Omaha's Good Samaritan
Hospital, opened in 1869 and became the forerunner of Bishop of Clarkson
Memorial Hospital. The first student nurse completed a two-year training period
in 1890. In 1902, a three-year nurses training school accepted students at the
Hospital's original location on 17th and Dodge Streets. It continued with the
dedication of his wife, Meliora, who developed a training school for nurses which
evolved into the institution now called Clarkson College.
A Clarkson College
superintendent called civic leaders to the first meeting of the Nebraska Nurses
Association at Clarkson in 1906. Three years later, the founding members
achieved their initial goal of "registration"
for 10 trained nurses who passed a state examination.
By 1913, Clarkson
was the first Nebraska school to reduce the standard "on duty" requirement from
12 hours per day (six and a half days a week) to eight hours per day. In 1936,
the hospital and school moved in to 26th and Dewey Streets where students were
housed in several homes nearby.
During World War
II, a new "nurses home" (dormitory) was built across the street from the
Hospital. The School of Nursing also actively participated in the U.S. Cadet
Nurse Corps program, which funded student tuition, books, uniforms and monthly
stipends as a way to recruit nurses for the war effort.
After the war, the
hospital moved to its current location at 42nd and Dewey Streets. However,
related budget problems led the nursing program to close in 1955. A generous
donation from Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kiewit enabled the nursing program to reopen
in 1960 with the completion of Kiewit Tower.
The 1970s saw
Clarkson College admit male students to its burgeoning program. In the 1980s,
Clarkson College received accreditation from the North Central Association and
National League for Nursing. Development of the Online Education, Radiologic
Technology/Medical Imaging and Physical Therapist Assistant, Health Care
Business, Picture Archiving Communication Systems (PACS), Post-Master's certificates in nursing and a
host of Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities were
added to College offering within the last decade.
-more-
In the new
millennium, a focus on diversity led to the development of the Gateway to
Success Minority Nursing Scholarship. In order to serve our diverse population
the College began the "Building on the Legacy of Enriching Campus Life for
Students" effort in 2004 to create an environment of living and learning
by constructing the new Student Village campus. The new campus includes a
Student Center, apartment-style Residence Hall and courtyard complete with the
Clarkson College Service League Heritage Garden.
In 2008, the
College continues to keep its Mission in the forefront by preparing students to
provide high quality, ethical and compassionate health care services. New
resources such as the Educational Technical Center located at 121 South 44th
Street and the Center for Stress Management located in the main building at
42nd and Dodge Streets contribute to this goal. In the main building, the
Center for Teaching Excellence opened its doors in 2008 to support the
continued focus on teaching. In addition, the Office of Professional
Development and American Heart Association Life Support Training Center moves
to its new location in the lower level of the main building in 2008. Existing resources
with educational partners like The Nebraska Medical Center continue to make our
history and the educational experience students receive extraordinary.
Together with these resources, Clarkson College faculty and
staff have a passion for helping students succeed with a vision of developing
health care professionals for today and tomorrow.
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The Clarkson
College core programs include associates, bachelors, masters, post-masters and
certificates in the areas of Nursing; Allied Health; Health Care Business and
Professional Development. The College is nationally accredited through the
Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
(NCA). The Vision of Clarkson College is to develop health care professionals
for today and tomorrow and the Mission is to provide high quality, ethical and
compassionate health care services. Clarkson College is an Educational Partner
with The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information about Clarkson College,
contact Kelsey Archer at 402.552.6209; toll free at 800.647.5500; or visit us
on the Web at www.clarksoncollege.edu.
