Norma J. Kent Nursing Scholrship
Norma J. Kent knew in high school exactly what she wanted to do after graduation. In her senior yearbook where it asks "This person is most likely to become . . . ", for Norma it was "most likely to become a nurse at her home town (Iron Mountain, MI) V.A. Hospital. And even though she would never work at her local V.A. Hospital, her career path and life’s journey helping to heal the sick was set.
That journey would begin at Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) where she would earn her BS degree to become a registered nurse. Her nursing career would start at Augustana Hospital (Chicago, IL) and take her and her growing family to Moline, IL, Madison, Kenosha, Racine, and finally Wausau, where she would spend the last 30 of her 40 year nursing career, first at the old Wausau Hospital North and then as Aspirus Wausau Hospital, eventually becoming the Director of Nursing and the Orthopedics Unit. She would finally retire in 1992. Norma would enjoy her retirement up until the time of her passing in 2022, at the age of 92.
At her funeral, several of her former colleagues would comment on how fair minded, kind and considerate she was to both patients and staff and that Norma was the best supervisor that they ever had the pleasure of working for. That disposition was evident very early on in her nursing career. A performance review from her nurse training at Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL), Pediatrics Unit (Dec. 52) states the following: “Being kind, sincere, and well-poised has helped Norma to become a good pediatric nurse. Demonstrated ability to recognize individual needs and tried to satisfy those needs, social and emotional as well as physical. Made mature judgements quickly. Dependable. Relationships with parents were constructive and they had great faith in her care of their child. The children were especially fond of her and would ask for her.”
Do you have that special “something” that will also you to leave a lasting positive impression on patients and colleagues alike? The Norma J. Kent Nursing Scholarship has been established for students inspired enough to leave their own lasting impression.