James Walker Memorial Hospital School of Nursing - Epitome Yearbook (Wilmington, NC)

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Class History September 3, 1957 -- Memorable day! Farewells, with' a mixture of tears and brave smiles, were said to our de- parting families. We were on our own as we turned and climbed the endless stairs leadingto our small, bare Cyellowj rooms on the top floor of the Nurse's Home. What a mix- ture of emotions wefelt as, on this day, we began our nursing careers--5 eagerness, pride, elation, fright, but with un- certainty outweighing them all. Uncertainty! It loomed before us as books were handed out, welcome speeches made, expectations mounted, and as the lonely nights fell and we found ourselves staring out our windows at glaring streetlights and the unfriendly cupola of the hospital roof - not the friendly old oak tree outside our own bedroom window back home. Books, books, books! Having just been introduced to Nursing Arts, Pharmacology, Nutrition, Anatomy and Physi- ology, Microbiology, and Uncle Zeb Calong with numerous othersj, we were put to work on the floor - with many mis- givings on our part Cand l'm sure, also on the part of our educators!D. Here, old Mr. Uncertainty made his appear- ance again. We blushed at the thought of asking our patient if she had been to the bathroom today - and we'd never be guilty of entering a room while our patient was bathing! Somehow we managed that first day to get our water pitchers filled Candafew urinals filled with ice water and flowers! and our linen folded with no serious mishaps. The linen closet was our favorite hideaway - no doctor would think of looking for anurse in there! - and that monstrous black object on the desk which kept ringing was strictly taboo! Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. We studied, made beds, studied, emptied bedpans, studied, and filled morewater pitchers. We glowed with pride when some of our idols - our doctors - began to learn our names -g we were really becoming part of the hospital scene. We were filled with both pride and humility as we kneeled on May 23, 958 at the Presbyterian Church to have Miss Britt place 1 our heads that niece of starched white cloth that means much to us. Vacation follow:-, and we returned to a summer of our f tsolid eight hour Q- ts. The fact that we had no classes w -x

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DORA WILLIS SALTER Atlantic, N.C. merry heart doeth good like a medicine. CLASS FLOWER Red Rose CLASS MOTTO It's not the gale but the set of the sails that determines the way we go. vias . f .M JUDITH HERRING WALLEN Richlands, N.C. It is better to wear out in mischief than to rust in being too solemn. M r if X, A it 5' ix 1 S-XQWQX? rr? X jill? . .T 'K N , f I 21

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almost made upfor the sweltering heat of the hospital corri- dors We busily tripped up and down day in and day out. The autumn we became Juniors found several of our classmates getting married or making plans for the same. Things were really popping as we greeted the incoming class of Freshmen. It was really hard to imagine anyone lowlier than we. We suddenly found the responsibility of the Junior- Senior Banquet resting on our shoulders and in addition to our heavy load of studies and work, we adopted a mad money-making campaign. There are probably many per- sonnel who still shudder whenever they see us for fear we are armed with boxes of Kathryn Beich candy or pizza pies to push them into buying. With much hard work, our ban- quet Was a success - Remember ? By the fall of 1959, we had bravely fought the deluge of OB, Derm, ENT, Eye, CD, and VD with most of the class emerging victorious. By this time nearly all of us had had our turn of most of the special services - writing diets, passing instruments, timing contractions, etc. Our next big obstacle was Raleigh and the Dorothea Dix Hospital. Our three months at the Hill were filled with many varied experiences, but to say the least, it was a new experience in nursing for us. There were several different attitudes toward our affiliation - some in opposition such as interest and indifference. Again Mr. Uncertainty sometimes visited us and gave us that feeling of extreme inadequacy that was ever present during our pre-clinical period Cand we must admit, still remains - at times stronger than othersb. After our last big hurdle, Pediatrics, and one summer of student stripes,we will be ready for whites. We hope that through actual performance, sincerity of attitude, and results of State Boards, we can prove that we deserve to wear the whites of a Registered Nurse and accept our duties thereby assumed. 3