The Trent/Fleming School of Nursing (TFSON) was conceived in 1994 as a groundbreaking pilot project, launching with 20 students and setting the stage for an innovative and progressive collaboration between Trent University and Fleming College.
Rita Burke, one of the nursing professors part of the School's pilot, was already an experienced nurse and educator. Yet, as a Black woman from Guyana navigating a predominantly white field, ascending to a position of leadership was not easy. Despite obstacles and prejudices at the time, Rita's advanced qualifications, including a master's degree in adult education, positioned her to co-write the curriculum for the joint nursing program, which continues to thrive thirty years later.
"First of all, I wasn't supposed to be hired," said Burke. "And secondly, I wasn't supposed to do well. And I shattered that myth."
"Rita Burke's contributions to the Trent Fleming School of Nursing continue to shape our program to this day. Her vision and expertise helped establish a curriculum that not only set high academic and clinical standards but also emphasized the importance of diversity, inclusion, and compassionate care," said Dr. Hugo Lehmann, dean of TFSON. "The foundations she helped lay three decades ago remain at the core of how we educate and inspire the next generation of nurses."
This initiative was not only a milestone for collaborative education but a powerful repudiation of prevailing stereotypes of minorities in that era. The initial skepticism of early cohorts in the TFSON, soon gave away to respect and admiration.
"When students saw a Black woman in front of a class, they didn't know what to do with that," recalls Burke. "None of them were rude or cruel, but they were surprised until they grew accustomed to the fact that This is a woman who has been a nurse most of her life, she has information that I need, and experience that will benefit me'."
For young, aspiring nurses and educators, Burke offers advice grounded in experience and courage. She urges students to build a life of abundance and build their own personal philosophy of nursing, one grounded in compassion, human connection, and lifelong learning.
"You have a right as a human being, as a woman, as a Black person, to be wherever you want to be and to do whatever you want to do," exclaims Burke. "Do not allow people to rob you of that opportunity. Know what the North Star is for you and keep focused on that."
Burke's story transcends a successful career in nursing education. It stands as a shining example for anyone daring to challenge the status quo and pursue their dreams, reminding us that true belonging isn't about fitting in.
