Charity Hospital School of Nursing - Caps and Capes Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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N History of the Charity Hospital School of Nursing A ffiliated with Louisiana State University The Charity Hospital School of Nursing was organized in 1894 under the direction of the Sisters of Charity. Located as it is on the grounds of the immense State Charity Hospital, the school is afforded magnificent opportunities to give young women, desirous of entering the nursing pro¬ fession, a particularly broad and complete education. The enviable rec¬ ords attained by many of its alumnae testify to the educational worth of the instruction given the students in the School of Nursing. Post-graduate courses in Anesthesia and Operating Room Technique, and affiliating courses, make it possible for graduate and student nurses of other schools of nursing to share in the opportunities for instruction at Charity Hospital. Because of the ever increasing demand of hospitals, schools of nursing, and other agencies for nurses with advanced professional and academic preparation, the Administrators of the Charity Hospital and the School of Nursing approached the President of the Louisiana State Lfniversity in 1931 and requested the institution of courses for graduate nurses which would meet the requirements for university credit. This was arranged and, in the summer of that year, the first university courses for graduate nurses were conducted on the grounds of Charity Hospital. In 1932, the Louisi¬ ana State University Medical School was established in New Orleans on the Charity Hospital Campus. Realizing that the Medical Center offers splendid facilities for such a project, the University which is located in Baton Rouge, continued to conduct the advanced courses for graduate nurses on the grounds of Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The grad¬ uate nurse staff of the hospital immediately took advantage of the oppor¬ tunity given them to raise their educational standards. Many are now the possessors of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Education, which is granted by the University. Graduate nurses from other recognized schools of nursing likewise avail themselves of this opportunity to further their professional development. Eighteen

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In 1849, new additions were made to the hospital to relieve the over¬ crowded situation. By 1891, the hospital included a skin clinic, a dental clinic, and other long-requested outdoor clinics. On March 28, the long- hoped for Children’s Hospital was realized through the noble donation of Mrs. Richard Milliken. In 1894, the Charity Hospital School of Nursing was organized, and in 1901 the Hutchinson Memorial Home for Nurses was completed. In 1909, the Delgado Building, which now contains our beautiful operating rooms, was constructed. Several years later through the generous donations of the John Diberts, a much-needed Sisters’ Home was built, and, through the same benefac¬ tors, a Tubercular Division was added for the white patients. In 1927, the Lapeyre-Miltenberger Home for Convalescents arose on the spacious grounds of the hospital. This was the last of the buildings to be added to the Charity Hospital of 1832. The Main Building having served its purpose for over a century was no longer deemed safe for use under the present crowded situation, and its dilapidated condition was proven to be detrimental to the public wel¬ fare. The State of Louisiana with the assistance of the Federal Public Works Administration raised the sum of $12,588,166.00 for the construc¬ tion of a new and greater Charity Hospital, and on August 3, 1937, the first pile was driven—the beginning of a magnificent piece of work. On April 19, 1938, another eventful pile-driving took place which marked the beginning of our new Nurses’ Home which is being constructed on Clai¬ borne and Gravier Streets, opposite the Sisters’ Home. Eagerly, as the days go by, we watch these massive structures rise. Our hearts throb with pride to think that we are a part of’ this great under¬ taking. Onward always. Charity Hospital! Seventeen

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In 1937, the program was broadened to include student nurses by af¬ filiation of Charity Hospital School of Nursing with the Louisiana State LJniversity. The School now offers three programs: (1) The three year basic professional program leading to the Diploma in Nursing; (2) The combined academic and basic professional course leading to the Diploma and to the Bachelor of ' Science Degree in Nursing; (3) The program for graduate nurses leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education. Close cooperation is maintained with the administrative and educa¬ tional staffs of Charity Hospital and the Louisiana State University Medi¬ cal School, each of which has made fully available the clinical and educa¬ tional resources needed for the continued expansion of the School of Nursing. JAMES MONROE SMITH, Ph.D. President of the University Nineteen