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

Page 17 text:

C oncerlo for 16 pieces in V hlat Allegri 1 lie Hat had five flights, liot and cold run- ning water, a not so handy handy-man named Tom, and 16 new tenants. To most of us, it was known as 92 Charles Street, the MCfH dormitory for lirst year students. Needless to say. our lirst impression was one of depression. The introductor ' tea was more introductions and less tefi; ■e smiled wanly for the photograjihers, and were propelled to a place called the Moseley Rotunda, where we were oriented to the rigors of 6:43 roll call and 7:30 A.M. classes. 1 he effect was devastating. WHiy ' e didn t take off en masse that evening for our respect iv’e homes is still puzzling. Back at the dormitory on Charles Street, we were issued room instructions and ward- robe keys by our new housemother. The in- structions were immediateU ' [Hit out of sight and out of mind: the keys were put out of sight. Roommates cast suspicious glances at each other, and curious glances at each ol her s clot I les. But soon misfits in both per- sonalities and wardrobes were adjusted, and the show was on. h‘ pictured ourselves as protagonists in a play that had a six months run in Thayer Class Room. Outfitted in light gray smocks that bore a startling resemblance to new po- tato sacks, we struggled blindly towards the light of a C average. 1 he smocks un- fortunately wore heautifidly: we were mis- taken many times for Phillips House maids (w lio also wore gray) much to the chagrin of both parties. The C average was harder to keep intact: how many times did w ' e change lieds without putting the laundry hag in proximity, or startle the world of biochemistry by formidating new and utterly useless com- [jounds! Soon. hut not soon enough for many of us, we were measured for and given our temporary blue school unilorms. Ibis, coupled with defin- ite Wf ircl assignments, restored our faith in our profession as nurst ' s. and v e worked liard and occasionalK well. ' ‘r well. .Sometimes not wisely, hut too well. And then came the occasion we were all eagerly anticipiiting. the cajjping ceremony. Someone unkindly compared our treasures to Hood s cottage cheese boxes; nohocK knew (or did everyone?) how highk’ we prized our little cheese ho.xes, or with what due respect and consideration we wore them. And SO. fet ' linjJ rcillicr omni|:olenl and or IdK as all lledgl ings do. we engaged in v arious rictiv itii ' S. planning dances, part es, and now and then trying to remember how to sfucK’. h‘ found ourselves being elected to various hoards. (Impossible! We had already broken practically every existing rule. ery good psychology, was the grudging compliment. They either wanted us to sug- gest new ones, or to stop breaking the old ones by being forced to set an example.) And we changed dormitories. No longer the gurls from 92 Churles, ” w ' e were merely th ‘ ungracious tenants of Thayer House’s third Hoor alley who were darkly sus))ected of smoking i llegally in our rooms. Not jieople to he trilled with, the training school office sent us all home for a three week vacation ai id shortK ' tl lerealter changed our dormi- tor - again. There was a new class coming in. Adagio Our favorite instructor during prohie peri- od had once musingly remarked that she regarded the second year student as being the most fortunate one in the school. Hav- ing one vear of training behind her she was well oriented to the hospital and its routines: having one year of training ahead of her, she was as yet not bothered by thoughts of graduation and post graduate jilans. Thus catalogued, we pleasantly reminded our- selves, This is the happiest year of our lives. ” [ 13 }