The College of Nursing Turns 90 – looking back with Carol Wilson

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a story from the spring 2007 edition of the College of Nursing publication, Advances. This and other stories from the publication will run in UNMC Today in commemoration of the college’s 90th anniversary. Click here to see the entire Advances newsletter online.

A broken leg took Carol Wilson down a career path she never intended — and the UNMC College of Nursing is doubly thankful.

Armed with a degree in philosophy and religion from Park College in Missouri, Wilson was doing graduate work in religious studies at Iowa’s Drake University when a bad fall put her in the hospital.

Her leg was shattered but not her spirit. The injury left her on crutches for three months, unable to continue her studies or her job at a local church.

So the Omaha native returned home and, after recovery, decided to enter the School of Nursing at the University of Nebraska. Her interest was sparked both by her injury and by an earlier job at Rockland State Hospital in New York.

After graduation, Wilson became evening supervisor at University Hospital in 1952, taught nursing arts and later served as head nurse on the medical floor.

Carol Wilson with her schnauzers, Happy and Frosty.

She left to earn a master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Iowa in 1956, then returned to serve as assistant to School of Nursing director Irma Kyle. In 1963, she was named director of nursing service.

“One of the issues I worked hard on was salary increases for nurses,” she said. “Our successful efforts spread to other local hospitals and nursing salaries went up citywide.”

After a 42-year nursing career, Wilson retired.

“I was a workaholic so people thought I would have a hard time adjusting,” Wilson said. “It took me about one day.”

She received the Nebraska Nurses Association Distinguished Service Award in 2005 in recognition of her volunteerism and leadership. She twice served as president of the UNMC College of Nursing Alumni Association and this year is completing her final term as a board member.

In addition to giving her time, Wilson has provided generous financial gifts over a long term.

“I support the College of Nursing because it is doing an excellent job, period,” she said. “From my perspective, the future there looks very promising indeed.”

Her interests today include gardening, reading mysteries, playing the organ, listening to classical music and enjoying her two schnauzers, Happy and Frosty. She also is an avid duplicate bridge player and plays in the same studio as fellow enthusiasts Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.