Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing - Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 8 text:

I Am A Nurse 1 am a nurse — short words that hold a tale that’s left unsung, A tale of study — work — of pleasure put aside, A tale that tells of sacrifice — of homesick hearts, Of discipline — of tears — of trampled pride. 1 am a nurse — yet she who says these words Would not trade places with a queen. For in her heart she knows that she can say I am”— instead of I might have been.” I am a nurse who knows the spectre pain. I ' ve seen it in a hundred faces pinched and grim, And though I conquer it in my small way, The hand that heals is still the hand of Him. When dawn breaks clear some day across this war torn world, And somewhere — far from these corridors I’ve trod, I’ll look above — and these words will fill my heart, I am a nurse — and thank you, God.” R. M. J. Page Six

Page 7 text:

The Class of Nineteen Hundred and Forty Three extends to MISS MARY MAHER MISS HAZEL BOWLES MISS STEPHANIE CONVELSKI MISS HELEN PENHALE MISS HAZEL WALKER MISS HELEN HEWIT sincere appreciation for their help and guidance in the past and wishes them a happy and successful future in their new work. Page Fit e

Page 9 text:

Foreword To-day we are faced with a problem of tremendous importance to ourselves, our country, and our conscience. We must think carefully and act quickly; the need is great and immediate for the nurse is playing a major role in this fanatical, futile struggle for world supremacy. All over the world the cry for more well prepared women to care for the men in the service, for their bombed families at home and for their weary, undernour- ished children, echoes like the roar of a cannon. This does not mean that all of us must consider it our duty to go into active military service. There is just as much opportunity for needful service on the home front. Those of us who have had the background for teaching are needed in the expanding nursing education program. The quota of students graduating yearly must, of necessity, be increased. This calls for increases in the staff supervising their training period. Others with public health experience are needed to carry on the accentuated program to maintain high standards of health in the army camps and defense plant areas. As a day lost for illness in a defense plant means decreased production, great emphasis is being placed on healthful living and prevention of accidents. Those of us who are needed in special fields should not be blinded to our chances to assist in a less adventuresome way than in foreign duty. Hospital staffs are being depleted so rapidly by the loss of nurses anxious to join the service that the civilian hospitals are running with skeleton staffs. Those who for some reason cannot go into military service should feel an obligation to serve in the gen- eral hospitals. This for them is a patriotic service. The call to care for military and civilian health is a challenge to the worthy descen- dents of Florence Nightingale and her successors. Are we going to accept this challenge or is it to be another instance of too little and too late?” Page Seven