A new book should be an eyeopener for a new generation of nurses or those training to be nurses at the University of Guam. It tells the story of the first graduating class of nurses at UOG.
Published by the school’s first graduating class, the Class of 1968, in celebration of its 50th reunion, the book features photos and personal narratives of the life stories and professional journeys of each of the nurses in the Class of 1968 as well as the legacy of contributions they have made to health care on Guam. It also documents the history and genesis of formal nursing education in Guam.
“This book is a symbol of who we are as the first graduating class — the Class of 1968,” said Alumni Association President Rose Tribaudini. “We are the guiding light for the next generation of nurses. We have done a lot of good for the health of our island community in Guam and throughout Micronesia.”
The book will serve as a much-needed resource for current and future nursing students as they navigate the challenges of the nursing curriculum. The launch will provide an opportunity for cross-generational sharing between the first graduating class and subsequent graduating classes regarding their experiences in nursing.
The association also intends for the book to increase community awareness about the importance of nursing in the Guam community, which needs more nurses and hopes that the publication will inspire and further encourage students to enter the nursing profession, Tribaudini said. The narratives about each nurse featured in the book provide a clear vision of the contributions that nurses make every day to the health and well-being of all who call Guam home.
Additionally, the book amplifies nurses’ voices during a time of struggle for the Guam Memorial Hospital.
“We want to reach our leaders because of all the issues that we are now having at the hospital in hopes that politicians would consider the important voices of nurses,” Tribaudini said. “We want to have our voices heard because we are at the forefront assisting the voiceless and infirm, our patients, 24/7.”