Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing - Hahnoscope Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 21 text:

Glass Tbistory F one had stepped into the sitting-room of the Nurses' Home on the eve of October 1, 1918, they would have been greeted by a group of people gathered from various parts of our country. Various incentives were the cause of their presence on this night. These were tragic times for young America, for all around us brothers and relatives were being sent to far-away camps or over- seas. XYhile all of this was going on, we too had a desire to help Humanity. Although we could not fill as great a place as a gradu- ate nurse, we contented ourselves with the thought that we were relieving someone by filling a place that would have been vacant. Our arrival was quite timely, for the infiuenza had begun to clutch Philadelphia's inhabitants in its terrible grip. On the morning of October 1, it would be hard to find a more amusing scene than we must have presented to onlookers. Having traveled long distances the night before, we had found it hard to arise when six o'clock came. Having managed by many awk- ward manipulations to make stiff bishop collars button in the back, and in the meantime scurrying about trying not to fall over long dangling skirts while we struggled with the bands of our new aprons, we finally answered the repeated call of our housekeeper, Mrs. Geissler, by hastening down the stairs, and, after what assist- ance she deemed necessary in completing our nurse's toilet, followed in her trail over to the hospital. VVe were surely a bewildered- looking crowd as we stood at our table waiting for grace. Some were big, some were small, some short, and some tall. The days of the terrible epidemic of infiuenza were upon us, so instead of the customary preliminary course we were placed on duty immediately, sometimes to stay till late evening without any time off duty, but little did this worry us, for we had already caught the spirit of doing for others, as well as learning much from our Senior nurses. A word here should be said about our Seniors, for those were gruesome days for them. Shortage of nurses, added responsibility due to the epidemic, all go to show what true soldiers they were. Their willingness to teach and help us in our utter ignorance of the ways of nursing shows their untiring patience and kindness. Many times, even now, we can look back and say, I learned 'that from a Senior nurse when I was a 'Probief 15

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Glassgmook WUTCGF5 Editor E. L. KING Assistant Editor B. E. DI EROLF A ssociate Editors A. E. CULBERT M. F. LEXVIS R B. SHIMP C1395 WUICCYS President B. KLEIN Vice-Presidents K. KLEIN A. E. CULBERT Secretary Treasurer R. B. SHIMP E. L. KING C1855 Colors Ilfaroon and Gold IIDOIIO To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield 1-I

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After a time the epidemic began to wane, and before Christmas our classes had started. This crowded our day even more, and at that time we thought we had never been busier in our whole lives. However, according to the old adage, Experience proved to be our best teacher. Gur classes continued at the medical college until late spring. At this time our directress, Miss Isabella Wood- burn, resigned to study at Columbia University. Dr. Mary M. Spears then took us under her wing, until early fall, when Miss Irwin came to take up the office of Chief Nurse, and during her stay we were taught by the ever-present example in herself. With her came Miss Pratt, also a good teacher. However, she entered other fields of nursing which carried her far from us. We missed her, but her place was filled by another graduate of the University Hospital, Miss Myrtle Hursh. She stayed with us as long as Miss Irwin, which was in May, 1921, when we were again without a Directress, until Miss Epler, one of our own graduates, took the reins for the early summer months. In late summer Miss Black, a graduate from the Jefferson Hospital, came to us. VVe are glad to welcome her here, and we realize what a splendid training the rest of the pupil nurses will receive under her instruction and supervision. May they be more cooperative at all times than we have been in the past three years. Now comes the parting of the ways-the time we had marked off on the calendar for the last three years, and yet, like everyone else, we hate to go! However, if we are going to progress we cannot remain in one place, we must step out from under the sheltering eaves of the College Hospital--out into the cold big world. Bo-ol it's cold! VVon't somebody take us in? VVe hope so. And, anyway, we have all the knowledge and training we received at the College Hospital--second to none. So, believing, we travel on. Good-by and good luck.