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

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October 4-October 16 — More procedures and observations . . . we are really learning what it takes to be a nurse. October ig — Having finals. October 20 — Second nursing care study due today. . .everyone looked as though they had had a good night’s sleep. October 2g — Anatomy final today; what did you put for that answer to question 100. . .“Where and what is the “orpcula- ris palprebrarum?” October 30- Our last TCR inspection — fine, except that someone forgot to dust the light switch. November - -Had a history of nursing final and a nursing monthly. . .what a discouraging day. November 4 Winter is here ... bridge is becoming one of our favorite indoor sports. November 3— Repeated our fourth nurs- ing monthly. November 16 — Party at Marcia Wade’s. Much fun. November ig — Medicine pouring on the ward . . . thought we knew that patient’s name but somehow, Mr. Jones got Mr. Brown’s octavites. November 22 — Can now give penicillins. November 23 Thanksgiving clay. . .we can be thankful that our Probie days are over. November 27— Enjoying the snow. . . having riotous times on the second, third and fourth floor alleys in Thayer. December 1-25 — Plans for the Christmas formal, candlelight service, etc . . . the closets are not big enough to hold our secrets well. Merry Christmas, dear diary. December 23 — Our first Christmas here . . .Santa was really good to us. . .enjoyed helping patients observe Christmas. December 31 — New Year’s eve and new bibs. January 1, 1346 — Lots of resolutions. January o- Excursions to Pendergast Preventorium. . .tea around the fireplace. February 4 — Beginning of our first vaca- tion. Such time-consuming plans made by all to sleep all three weeks getting up only to eat. February 24 - Back from vacation. . .full of vim and vigor, it says here. March 7 — New classes beginning. . . more “ologies.” April 13 — Midterms and midnight oil. May g — First aid final ... finally know the art of artificial respiration. May 13 — Here we come, OR. June 23 — Esplanade concerts and mos- quitoes have arrived hand in hand. July 4 — Anniversary of our country’s independence. . .we are still waiting for ours. July 3 — Our first anniversary. . .only two more years to go. September 2-December 3— Began our BLI affiliation . . . had a taste of delivery, block relief and very quiet night duties. December n — Vacation time again. . . made it home for Christmas this year. February , March, April, May, June and July 1347- -First group went to McLean . . . home was never like this .... The girls have also made the rounds of pediatrics, Eye and Ear and Haynes. [25]

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Dear Diary July 5, 10343 — Our most memorable day; we arrived at M.G.H. to begin our train- ing. Registration, tea with Miss Johnson and her associates . . . tour of hospital . . . supper in cafeteria. . .taken out for a good time at night by our big sisters . . . then to bed at last. July 6 — 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. . .fin- ished packing and getting settled . . . more orientation. July 7 — more classes. . .visited the kids to get better acquainted. July 8 — wore our uniforms for the first time. . .worked on the wards. July 10 — another tour of the hospital. . . so many places to get lost in. July —Had a math test today. . . y 2 x 34 equals JJ of 100%????? July 12 — Had our first nursing quiz. . . whew, glad that’s over. July 13 — We are already making empty beds. . .does it seem possible???? Party on Walcott roof. . .really had a good time. July 14 — Worked on the wards all morning. . .cleaning bedside tables. July 16 — Had our first taste of M.G.H. shots . . . Barby Eckersall really fell for them. July ij — T.C.R. It was here that we were observed in making our empty bed today. “Where is that toe pleat?” “Do you think that drawsheet is tight?” “Are those corners made properly?” July 23 — Started occupational therapy projects — embroidered sampler squares. July 26- August 2 — This week was filled with monthly examinations — sure were glad when they were over. August 3 — Now we can make occupied beds, give back care. . .really feel as though things were being accomplished. August 4 — First monthly marks posted; Ach! August 6 — Parts of our cadet uniform issued — didn’t get much chance to wear them as they had to be given back. August 14 — Y-J day... the city went wild and so did 92 Charles street ... re- member the fire escape incident? August 22 — Big sister-little sister party at Lynn beach. . .the water was fine but the moon was finer. . . Rest of the class moved to Thayer. August 28 — TPR ' s ... thought we knew how to count but we don ' t. . .Second month blues... to think we have been here that long. September 4 — A new class of probies ar- rived today — if they only knew what they were in for. September 10 — First nursing care study due tomorrow . . . everyone stayed up ’til the wee hours of the morning working furiously to finish. September 18 — OPD excursion. . .how do those patients ever find their way around. September 28 — Another month gone by. October 3 — Snack party given by Misses Dorothy Johnson and Helen Belcher. I 24]

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April — Began plans for our graduation, yearbook, pictures, banquet and formal. June ig — Measured for checks ... at last. June jo — Having our pictures taken in whites. July 4 again — Our independence is in sight. July 5 — We are seniors today. . .one more year to go celebrated with a picnic at Lincoln. July 16 — We can wear our checks now . . .goodbye blues. These are but a few of the incidents that have taken place during our student days at M.G.H. We have all had our moments of disappointment and hours of fun. We wish to thank our instructors, supervisors, head nurses and fellow students for all that they have done for us. Good luck, everyone. The main events of three years of train- ing are usually reminisced about in the frequent gatherings in the room of any of the student nurses, usually the nurse who has just received a box from home and who has an extra package of cigarettes. Under the influence of a few dozen cokes, the tongues are loosened and the babble begins. Remember the day we came — Sep- tember 4, 1945? Some of us found that we lived on the upper floors of 92 Charles while others lived at Thayer House where there was actually an elevator!! Then we all went to Walcott house for tea where we met the instructors and supervisors of the school of nursing. They all seemed so friendly and glad to have us in their school. Remember the mornings we trudged up Charles Street when it was still dark be- cause of the early hour and the sleet and rain, dropped our wraps and rubbers (the first rainy morning only) and ran down the ramp to roll call? A last minute rush to change an answer in the papers we had all done together the previous evening, preceded the lineup for inspection. Many the thankful prayer for black stockings on which to give our shoes a last minute shine. Then we hurried through endless corridors to breakfast which was mostly a discussion of what was expected to happen that day and whether in the procedure for making an empty bed you started making it by standing on the left or on the right. While working on the wards we gazed with wonder at the ease with which the procedures were carried out by the older nurses. We pretended indifference to their laughing glances as they noticed our apron-less uniforms. How many bedside tables, beds and floors did we clean? But remember THE impersonations, the pancake parties, the first Hallowe’en [26]