Symbols of our Heritage

The Maltese Cross

The Maltese Cross was first suggested by alumni members involved in drafting the original Constitution of the Association in 1892. Indeed, the constitution specifically states that "The badge of the Association shall be in the form of a Maltese Cross and bearing the colors of the Johns Hopkins University in blue and black enamel on a background of gold, the center bearing the letters J.H.H. and on the back the year of graduation and the motto."

Students of the class of 1986, the first graduating class of the present baccalaureate program, were keenly aware of the long struggle to achieve full university-based nursing education at Johns Hopkins. Mindful of this historical effort and its successful outcome, they chose as their graduation pin, the Hopkins Seal. Yet the Maltese Cross remains the symbol of the Alumni Association and graduates of the Hospital and University programs wear it with pride.

Vigilando

Inscribed on the reverse of the Alumni pin is "Vigilando," the motto adopted by early leaders of the Association, which means "forever watchful." According to Johns and Pfefferkorn (1954) "The story goes that from the several suggestions for a motto submitted by members of the Association, Miss Hampton favored Vigilando. Whether legend or fact, certain it is that Miss Hampton had a strong sense of the nurse's moral responsibility for vigilant watchfulness." It is the motto that serves as our publication's banner, a reminder of our historical and present focus on patient advocacy and a strong ethical and moral foundation for practice.

Hopkins cap

Although time has left the nurse's cap behind, it still represents the uniqueness of Hopkins Nursing. Developed by Mary Gross Finney, a member of the first graduating class of 1891, the cap that evolved was a combination of the Bellevue and New York Hospital caps and originally was made large enough to thoroughly cover a nurse's hair - its initial purpose. Albeit rare to see a cap still worn, graduates of the current baccalaureate program continue to purchase them, not to wear, but rather to remind them of their Hopkins heritage.