HISTORY OF THE NURSING PIN

The pin of the U.W. School of Nursing was planned in 1926. The design was selected by a committee of five: Miss Helen Denne, Director of the School, Miss Lila Fletcher, superintendent of nurses, Miss Christina Murray, instructor in the School, Dr. Robin Buerki, hospital administrator and Dr. Evans, of the Medical School staff. Those of us who wear this pin agree that it is truly a beautiful one. The symbolism of the pin is of particular interest.

The pin of the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing is in the shape of a Cross Pattee. It consists of the seal of the University superimposed upon a maroon cross and a caduceus. Often mistakenly called a Maltese Cross, the four-armed Cross Pattee dates from the Middle Ages, when it was worn by the Knights Hospitallees, a nursing order. (A true Maltese Cross has eight points, each of the four arms having an identification.)

The broad wings of the Cross Pattee are symbolic of a bird covering her young; this symbolizes the protection afforded by those bearing the cross.

In the School of Nursing pin, the top arm of the Cross Pattee is covered by the wings of a caduceus. The caduceus is represented as a staff surrounded by wings. According to Greek mythology, the staff was given to Mercury, messenger of the gods, by Apollo, god of the Art of Healing. The wings of the caduceus represent the winged sandals of Mercury. The caduceus has long been considered symbolic of healing, but it came to be associated with medicine accidentally, when in the Sixteenth Century a Swiss printer placed it on the title page of medical books.

In the center of the pin, over the caduceus and the Cross Pattee, is the round design of the seal of the University. This official seal was designed by John Lathrop, first Chancellor of the University, and adopted by the Board of Regents on February 11, 1954. According to Lathrop, the design depicted "The human eye upturned to receive the light falling upon it from above; the motto in illuminated letters above the eye, "Numen lumen" (God our light); the legend around the rim of the seal, "Universitatis Wisconsin Sigillum"." No records indicate the source of Chancellor Lathrop's inspiration for the seal. In their HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, Merle Curti and Vernon Carstenson indicate that "the
seal, sanctified by age and by usage, continues to be the signet of the University despite its obscure symbolism and its unfamiliar motto of uncertain origin."

The School of Nursing pin consists of three parts: The Cross Patte, representative of nursing; the Caduceus, symbolic of medicine; the seal of the University, signifying the educational setting of the School. Those who wear the pin may not always be aware of the individual symbolism of the component parts, but they know that the composite pin is symbolic of a proud tradition of service.

(Excerpt from November, 1966 NAO Newsletter)