Mother and Daughter Walk the Lawn Together
Date released: 17 Jun 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dory Hulse, Director of Communications Phone: (434) 924-0085
Email: doryhulse@virginia.edu
Mother & Daughter Walk the Lawn Together
By Communications Intern Hannah Walker
The 2009 final exercises were a family affair for Mary Beth White-Comstock and Haley Russell, but not in the traditional sense. The mother/daughter pair both walked the Lawn to receive their BSN degrees from the University of Virginia School of Nursing.
Ever since receiving her Associate degree, White-Comstock (“the mother”) has always wanted to further her education, but was never in a position to take action until a few years ago. White-Comstock said, “The motivation was always there and one day my husband asked, ‘what is standing in your way?’.” And that was just the extra push she needed to enroll in the RN to BSN program at UVa.
Russell (“the daughter”) had slightly different inspiration, although it also came from a family member. As a sophomore in high school, Russell suffered the death of her grandfather and that experience triggered her interest in the health care field. She observed the nurses and the difference they make every day, which solidified her decision to enroll in the traditional BSN program at UVa. Russell said, “My mom was a nurse while I was growing up, which also had an influence. I am glad I chose nursing at UVa. I am always going to have a job and it is very hands on and technical, which I enjoy.”
Both White-Comstock and Russell enjoyed the experience of going to school together, mainly because they were able to see each other more often. Even though their class schedules never overlapped, they were able to share their experiences and information about the professors and what to expect from certain classes. About going to school together, White-Comstock said, “It was funny at times. One time Haley came with me to get my picture taken for an I.D. badge and they directed their questions to Haley because they assumed she was the new student.” Russell had completed two years at UVa before her mother enrolled. Russell said, “I’m happy for her. She has always wanted to go back to school.”
With their new degrees in hand, their paths will diverge yet again. White-Comstock will continue her full time employment at the Virginia Department of Health while furthering her education at UVa to receive her masters in community and public health leadership. And Russell will commence her nursing career at Lynchburg General Hospital with the hope of returning to UVa in a few years for her PhD or DNP to move toward her goal of becoming a family nurse practitioner.
School of Nursing
The University of Virginia School of Nursing stands among the top 5% in the nation, ranked 19th by US News & World Report; two of its graduate programs are currently listed in the U.S. News Top Ten. With a vigorous research program that includes studies in rural health care and disparities, oncology, gerontology, complementary therapies and nursing history, the School has implemented new programs and strategies to address the national nursing shortage and the concurrent need for more highly educated nurses to deliver increasingly complex health care. The newly opened Claude Moore Nursing Education Building and upcoming renovation of McLeod Hall allow for an enrollment increase and expansion of the Clinical Simulation Learning Center and the Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry. Dean and Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing Dorrie Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, is the former associate dean for academic programs at the University of California San Francisco and a past president of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. For more information about the UVA School of Nursing and its programs, visit www.nursing.virginia.edu .