La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing - Nightingale Yearbook (La Junta, CO)

Page 14 text:

TO THE ALUM AE cc U THE ALL'31NAIi, what a significant phrase! ,lust a little thoughtful imagination and pictures of 57 nurses in I5 states of the U. S., one in Canada and two in India come to view. VVhat an array of talent is thus displayed in this kaleidoscopic panorama. If our perspective were at sufficient altitude, we might behold this scene with our eyes at one glance, but because of the limita- tion of the senses we must be content with the psychological possibility of creating mental pic- tures. In this picture we see hospital superintendents and supervisors directing the nursing care of scores of sick folk, public health nurses providing for public health and sanitation, private duty nurses attending, with minute carefulness, the bedside needs of the patient and executing with conscien- tious precision the orders of the physician, and happy homemakers using their nursing education as a stepping stone to improved physical condition of all the members of the home. We see the super- visors at the nurse's desk and with womanly dig- nity receiving the physicians instructions or bend- ing in lowly service over the body of a suffering patient who needs just one more touch to relieve that aching paing or accurately weighing the pa- tient's diet and preparing the menus so that the nourishment taken may have a therapeutic value. VVe see the public health nurses going into the home of some indigent family where some con- tagious disease is suspected. Though exposing her- self, she heroically lifts this poor family out of their sickness and provides for protection against further contagion. Before she leaves she breathes a prayer to the Father above to bless that poor home with His presence and in passing she gives a smile and a word of encouragement to the struggling mother. We see the private duty nurse watching for the smallest symptom that may give any help in the treatment of her patient. She is careful about the little things the patient Wants and speaks with tenderness and acts with kindness. As the shades of evening descend, she brings to the dis- quieted soul of her patient the soothing music of the Shepherd Psalm and with a soft prayer she bids her patient rest for the night. We see the contented homemaker singing at her task of house- keeping, often regarded as prosaic. Her knowledge is put to practical use in the planning for each in- dividual member of the family. To this group of heroic, God-fearing, self- sacrificing alumnae your 'Alma Nlater wishes to Page Tfwflfvr express their appreciation. YVe would be pleased to give you this appreciation in person-face to face, but we shall use the medium which is now in the hands of every alumnae, The Nightingale, the annual of the class of 1931. VVe appreciate the three years of hard work you did here, both in theory and in practice, and the personal acquaintance which was established in the contacts which were made. The praises of our patients and the growth of our work reflect your toil and our recollection of your own special, par- ticular personality proves our personal acquaint- ance. Your personalities are the warp and woof of the fabric of our training school. Diversified threads in the fabric make the perfect cloth. So your individualisms go to make up the complete tone of our School of Nursing. Your work, your study, your love, your joy, your perseverance, your prayers, your worship of God are all wrought into the character of the School. The Hospital ac- knowledges its debt to you. But our dependence upon you did not cease when we gave you your diploma. Every factory is judged by its finished product. Also schools are not judged by their buildings, equipment, or cata- log, but by their finished product, the alumnae. Upon you rests the burden to prove the merits of your hospital. As you think in terms of f'The Nlennonite Hos- pital School of Nursing what are the predomi- nant characteristics which come to your attention? lf the institution has functioned in your life as it should these characteristics which come to your attention are the things which give your school its individuality and these are the ideals which we hold you responsible to maintain. While we are thinking about them let us review them. They are full obedience to God, reverence for the Bible as the Word of God, loyalty to the church, the high- est possible standards of professional efliciency, un- selfish devotion to the welfare of the sick, an atti- tude that regards menial toil as high and holy, and a consecration that holds our life not as our own. Dear Alumnae, dare we justly expect you to live this ideal in the stern realities of actual life? Is there not in it a reasonable and Christian standard of life? Are you not all carrying the responsibility of lifting this standard? Will you not all say, God helping me, I will lift high this banner in the world. For the degree of success you have already attained we appreciate you and thank you. To the degree in which you feel you have failed and want to step higher we support you.

Page 13 text:

IW N ll hlf, W! HN ALLEN H. ERB A RHNISTER of the Gospel, called to this work at La junta in 1916. Consecrated, earnest, Spirit-filled, deeply concerned in the spiritual welfare of each patient, nurse and worker. Through his efforts and self-sacrifice, the institution has been enlarged and im- proved to our present new hospital and sanitariuln. Payzf Elffvfn

Page 15 text:

Y 7 Q X f , LYDIA M. HEATWOLE, R. . SUPERINTENDENT OF NURSES Agnes lllemorial Sanitarium, Denver, Colo. lx G H ai r. : IJ FY FD Q. -. : .. E w 'U o Cll PT O o F' 'Q 'S D FY' W ii Q. FD C 1 YU FD F ?' P-A 9 T-7 7' o 1: S? f f C o : '1 U7 FT? Z'-7 H J A noble Christian nurse, who gave of herself unllinchinglv in the early days of struggle whereby we as future nurses may reap abundantly. The fol- lowing poem is dedicated to the work she has done. Is it for gold, this uniform of service, The spotless garb of dignity you wear? ls it just beauty's sake and beauty only, Has set the snowy cap upon your hair? Is it for these you spend long hours of labor? No, far sweeter your recompense will be- Ye who have served the least of these mv brethrenf, The blaster said, HHave ministered to mef' Is it perchance for fame you have come hither, Seeking to comfort those in grief and pain? Binding the wounds with healing touch and bringin Health to the weary suffering ones again? No, not for praise your days of loving service, Higher your ideal far, than empty fame, Yourls be a blessing for the least you render- HA cup of water given in my name. So not for fame nor gold nor yet for beauty, This snowy garb of dignity you wear, 3 Down the dim aisles of pain-wracked souls of sorrow, Your coming breathes a comfort as of prayer. For in your life of consecrated service, It is the lVIaster's image that you see In every soul-to you the words were spoken- Lo, I was sick and ye have visited me. Pnyr 7lflil'll'4'll