By: Chelsea Sydnor
Ed.D Janie Carlton of the Hunt School of Nursing is quickly approaching the transition to retirement. She is currently finishing her last semester at Gardner-Webb after being an employee of the university since 1983.
“Dr. Carlton has served the Hunt School of Nursing in many capacities and has been instrumental in the development and success of the RN-BSN, MSN and DNP programs,” said Director of Graduate Programs in nursing, Cindy Miller. “Dr. Carlton and her expertise in nursing administration and nursing education will be greatly missed and we wish her well in her retirement.”
Gardner-Webb hired Carlton in 1983 to help implement the program that allowed registered nurses to complete a degree to receive their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN), which the school had then recently received a grant to develop.
“We received an accreditation status with the graduation of our first class of students – a group of three,” said Carlton.
Carlton then remained as the director of the RN to BSN program while also directing the Associate’s Degree of Nursing (ADN) program until 1995. She has taught in both of these programs over the years. The RN to BSN program now exists solely online through the Degree Completion Program.
Carlton originally split her time between the Statesville and Boiling Springs campuses due to donations from the Davis Foundation which provided for a nursing program in the area after the Davis Hospital closed. She remembers the origins of the program fondly.
“Developing a brand new program that had no traditions was a lot of fun,” said Carlton. “There was a lot of enthusiasm from the new faculty—nothing bound us to doing things a certain way. It was fun starting from scratch.”
In the past, Carlton taught at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as Lenoir-Rhyne University. She was also previously employed as a safety-control officer and a clinical educator at Friar Regional Hospital and as the Director of Nursing at Iredell Hospital.
Carlton is looking forward to spending more time with her family once she retires. She and her husband, who has already retired, plan to travel in their fifth-wheel RV. They will also continue their volunteer work with the Linville Falls Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
In the midst of planning for the adventures ahead, Carlton knows that her time at Gardner-Webb will always be special to her.
“I’ve stayed here a long time,” she remarked. “Something has clearly gone well.”
