Have you ever wondered what your nursing school was like 25 years ago? One source for answering this question is the accreditation self-study. But wouldn't it be interesting to see some pictures of the faculty and staff and have access to some of the other documents that would bring the school's history to life? Creating a time capsule is one way to preserve the present, sealing it for a predetermined number of years so that when it is opened, it will provide a historical snapshot. With the many changes that occurred in nursing and nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 was a perfect year to seal a time capsule.
Selecting a Capsule
One of the first decisions is what artifacts will be included in the time capsule. This will determine the size capsule to purchase. Next, decide whether the time capsule will be buried or placed in a display case. If it is to be buried, the capsule must be able to withstand the elements, and some type of marker will be needed to note the location. Many options for capsules are available online. If it is not going to be buried, one must consider how it will be locked. We chose a composite capsule that could be buried but had the school of nursing logo placed on it as we had decided to place it in a display case (Supplemental Digital Content, Photo, http://links.lww.com/NE/B29). Because it was designed to be buried, it did not have a locking mechanism. This was easily remedied with a bracket and a combination lock. If the plan is to bury the time capsule, selecting the location and determining how to mark the site should be early decisions, made in consultation with the facilities department.
Collecting the Artifacts
It is important to use only artifacts that will be accessible when the capsule is opened. Technology changes need to be considered. Imagine the frustration if you have stored photos on a compact disc, and there are no devices that can access the photos. We included a large variety of items organized in labeled folders. These included photos of students, faculty, and staff in the laboratories and at various nursing events as well as event programs. Marketing materials, syllabi, clinical evaluation forms, textbooks from 2 courses, and the school of nursing faculty organization bylaws and meeting minutes were included. Other items that were preserved were recent faculty publications, the annual outcomes report, and a letter from the current dean addressed to the dean and faculty in 2046. A booklet of faculty and staff reflections on teaching in the time of COVID and a college-provided cloth mask documented the pandemic. The current College Fact Book, a compilation of statistics related to class size, admissions, enrollment, and graduation, provided perspective of how the School of Nursing was situated in the college.
Sealing the Capsule
COVID restrictions on campus caused limitations on the sealing celebration. The full-time nursing faculty and staff, nursing librarian, and college chaplain attended. The event was photographed by the college's marketing department and shared with local media outlets. We showed the attendees some of what we had included in the capsule and provided the lock combination in a sealed envelope to the nursing librarian and college chaplain. They were asked to pass the sealed envelope to whoever filled their position when they left the college.
A time capsule not only preserves our history but also shows faith in a future, especially during an uncertain time. Many small colleges have closed or are in financial difficulty. Although a time capsule will not solve a financial crisis, it sends a message of optimism and an expectation that the school of nursing will be educating nurses for many years to come.