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.
