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

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A gift into the world for whoever will accept it. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

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And then . . . what you have found. it is well to give

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The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tse . . . And so it was with nursing. Many years ago with a single step, years of struggle and a lot of love, diploma nursing became an important contribution to humanity and a tradition in nursing. For thousands of nurses for many years, diploma nursing became more than just a way of life; it became an inner feeling- -it became THEM. We too began with a single step. Three years ago we came together separately, seeking one common goal just as the classes of yesterday came together for their three years. Soon we grew together and became one. The experience of our growth is comparable to none. It is a growth which occurred in many ways and encom- passed all of our needs and all of our qualities. Do you remember how good it felt to go next door and share you day ' s experiences with your neighbor? Our first experiences in the hospi tal are to be forgotten by none. Do you remember the sense of accomplishment you felt when you realized you COULD take care of patients and that you COULD give injections? Three years ago, did you ever think you ' d be where you are now? Did you ever think you ' d gain so much through a 3 a.m. chat with a friend or a simple yellow uniform and a cap? Do you remember how good it felt when the anatomy exam was over? When you taught your patient about diabetes, stayed with the mother in labor or tried to com- fort the dying child? Didn ' t you feel that for once in your life you were really doing something important? And even though you were tired of getting up at six, fed up with the doctors, sick of cafeteria food and didn ' t feel like studying- -wasn ' t there a time when you told somebody close that you are really glad you came to nursing school? Our growth together has occurred in many ways- -emotionally, academically and wholly. We ' ve come closer to something than we ' ve ever come in our entire lives. We ' ve come closer together and we ' ve come closer to ourselves. There is so much of life going on in the structure that is our hospital, so much to give, to receive and to learn. Are we fortunate to be here? Only if we can really see and feel these things. A tradition in nursing may be dying but one cannot destroy the ideals, the feelings or the love that goes into diploma nursing. In coming together again so that we may remain as one, the last diploma class of the Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing dedicates ourselves and our yearbook to the idea of diploma nursing and diploma nurses. Carol Kovach