May 6-12 is National Nurses Week

 

At Davenport University, nursing is more than a profession; it is a calling grounded in compassion, service and a deep commitment to others. This spring, the Davenport community honors two extraordinary nursing faculty members, Julie Polanic and Janine Blakeslee, whose combined 71 years of service to the nursing profession have helped shape the university’s nursing program.

Polanic and Blakeslee have guided more than 3,200 Davenport students on their journey to become nurses. Yet their true impact is measured in the confidence of a new graduate entering a patient’s room, in the steady hands of a nurse responding to a critical moment and in the compassion shown to individuals and families every single day.

“At the heart of their work has always been a shared belief that every student matters, every story matters and every future nurse deserves to be seen, supported and empowered,” said Debbie Bosworth, nursing program director at Davenport. “When we truly see, listen to and believe in our students, we nurture Health, Education, Awareness and Leadership (HEAL) principles, preparing them to care, grow and serve with purpose. This is what it means to lead with heart, this is what it means to HEAL.”

Bosworth said the pair’s commitment to educating future nurses came to life through their collaborative development of Davenport’s CARE (Confidence, Achievement, Responsibility and Excellence) Academic Success Plan. “More than a tool, CARE is a reflection of who they are as educators,” said Bosworth. “It creates space for honesty, growth and resilience, helping students navigate academic challenges and life circumstances with dignity and support. Through CARE, professors remind students that success is not about perfection, but about persistence, accountability and believing in what is possible.”

Polanic has been a nurse for 46 years and a member of Davenport’s nursing faculty for 14 years. She said she will undoubtedly miss the students, but especially her co-workers. “Davenport has a wonderful and dedicated group of nursing staff who provide the best education for our students,” she said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Davenport community that shapes the nurses of the future.”

Of all the experiences Polanic had at Davenport, attending her first pinning ceremony and commencement as an instructor were the most memorable. “Those two ceremonies left a lasting impression on me because they provided, and continue to provide, the perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our nursing students and encourage our graduates to go out and do great things in the community,” she said. 

When it comes to the nursing profession, Polanic said she has most enjoyed the flexibility it has provided her. “There are so many opportunities for growth and fulfillment available to nurses, and while taking care of patients at the bedside is incredibly rewarding, it’s just the beginning of what is possible,” she said.  

Since joining Davenport, Bosworth said Polanic has helped shape the future of the nursing program during seasons of tremendous growth. “She has taught an incredible 105 classes and, by conservative estimates, she’s impacted approximately nearly 1,600 Davenport nursing students who carry a piece of her wisdom, standards and heart into hospitals, clinics, communities and homes each day.” 

Polanic’s last day at Davenport will be June 30, after which she plans to spend much-deserved time with family, traveling and relaxing with numerous good books. 

Blakeslee has been a nurse for 25 years and received her Doctorate of Education in 2019. She has been a member of Davenport’s nursing faculty for fifteen years. 

“I love being both a nurse and an educator, and to be able to blend those two roles and help foster the next generation of nurses has been a privilege,” she said. “I’m ready to retire, but I will definitely miss watching our students grow leaps and bounds from the start of their nursing journey to when they graduate.”

Blakeslee also considers it a privilege to have worked with an amazing team of nurse educators at Davenport, whom she considers dear friends. “Our entire team is committed to our students and the nursing program, and I will miss that camaraderie.”

The aspect of nursing that Blakeslee has enjoyed most during her career is the role of advocate. “A nurse has many roles, but as an advocate, we protect patient rights, promote safety and ensure patient voices are heard when they are unable to communicate it for themselves.”

“Dr. Blakeslee’s contributions reflect a deep commitment to both innovation and the future of nursing care,” said Bosworth. “Recognizing the growing complexity of health care, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the development of the High Acuity Immersion Program within Davenport’s Nursing Program. This initiative was created not simply to teach skills, but to build confidence, clinical judgment and readiness in students preparing to enter high-pressure environments such as emergency and intensive care settings.

Bosworth explained that, through this work, Blakeslee ensures that students not only learn how to respond but also feel prepared, capable and supported as they do so. “Her leadership reflects a profound understanding of what patients need most: nurses who are not only clinically strong, but calm, compassionate and confident in moments that matter most,” said Bosworth.

Blakeslee officially retired at the end of April and has already made plans to travel to Italy with her husband in the fall. 

Bosworth said that the nursing faculty is grateful to Polanic and Blakeslee and that their legacies are not only in what they taught, but also in how they made students feel valued, capable and inspired to serve.