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

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’51 (Slaii February 11 , 1918 September 5, 1948 Dear Mom and Dad, Dearest Hilda, My first week in training is actually over, and vvbat a packed one it bas been! Rigbl after I sent the telegram from North Station 1 met four other girls who were trying to get a taxi to the hospital, so eve all rode there together. W asked the driver for the Charles Street Nurses Dormitory. We un- loaded our luggage and found tliat we were at the Eye and Ear Infirmary Nurses Home. Three blocks later we finally found 92 Charles Street. My room is on the fifth floor. No elevator. 1 he rooms are large and I share mine with a student from New Hampshire. Imogene and 1 went to tea to- gether and met very many interesting people. Before sup])er one of the instructors di- vided us alphabetically into sections, gave us meal-tickets, and told us that we could eat up to $1.40 worth of food each day. That ev’ening our big sisters took us out for sodas. I guess they enjoyed some interesting ex- periences at Charles Street, as one ran see from the stories which they tell. It certainly was a trying ordeal to arise at six o clock the next morning — our first day ns student nurses. We had to he in our dressy grey uniforms and at the hospital at 6: 50 . .M. for ro II call and inspection. The supervisors and instructors gave us the traditional cootie” party that night, and it was really loads of fun. I guess it s just one of those games which require skill be- cause the instructors seemed to draw the funniest cooties . There s more excitement coming. A minstrel show, the June Eormal. — the MCiTi Pops, and the caj ping on June 21 are all on the coming agenda. We ve spent the rest of the week getting lost in the maze of tunnels at J IOH, trying to find our classes, labs, and the lodge. East night our big sisters gave a party just for us. There were skits, singing, games, and we certainly enjoved every minute of it. See you this weekend. Eoads of love, Liz I received your most welcomed letter in the morning mail. You must he having a wonderful time at college. W all got ter- rific Ians this summer on the roof and at the beaches near here. W spent many a Jid ’ evening on the esplanade, listening to the lioston Pops Orchestra no less. We (“ven went sailing occasionally. Do ou realize that we re no longer proh- ies? A new class came in a week ago and do our new caps feel swish! We had a fcishion show the other night to raise money for the yearbook. I wish you coidd ha ’e been here — the clotl les were ter- rific. Before the modeling some of the girls sang, jjlayed the piano, etc. The strangest thing happened, though. There was only one man in the audience! that as long as I live. Every other week we have informal dances in Walcott f loust in living room, and I m going to he sure to he there this Eriday. E ’eryone has so much fun. ! Til never understand UJE (-lAO 3f-)OCJE(Tsi’ I must sign off now. I m going on a picnic at Lincoln. I hat s a small town not far from here, where i IGH has a beautiful con- valescent home. Hurriedly, Imogene December 20. 1948 Dear Mom and Dad. I m a little late with my weekly letter. Johnnie has probably told you all about the Christmas formal. By tradition our class sponsored it. W really did ourselves proud on the decorations. It was a wonderful dance and we were given a one o’clock privilege. I jz and 1 event to the Nursing School Office this afternoon for tickets for the play. [ 19 ]

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, ller imiclt consicleralion, palicnl sent to the O.R. I if ' re slie cncounlcrecl snaps, retractors, medical students and abrupt surgeons. However, she seemed to enjoy the experience and to d ' elop further her sense ol humor. Summer was liol and much amusement was pro idetl lor tin patient — Irecpient heacli parties, occasional informal dances, tlie .June fori7ial, concerts on tlie Esplan ade Iretieath the clear, starlight summer sky, sailing on the Charles Riser, and picnics at Lincoln. All of tl lese occupations helped her to relax, forget the heat, and obtain a certain peace of mind. September — I )ecemf)er. IQiy. Pediatrics. orking wi th children gas ' e her a did erent perspective on her disease. Improsed were her |)owers of ohsersation. her knowledge ol child psychology, an d I ler self-confidence. September 5. IQ4Q brought realization that onh ' one more year was recpiired to complete the course of study. Patient receiv(‘d her white hand, symbol of seniorits. Luring the fall, her spare tiirn was filled will) fudge and brownie sales, re- hearsals for the Minstrel Show, plans for WAlcott dances, to -making for the Christmas haztiar. and frerjuent dates for football games and parties. And once again came tlu ' Christmas ce lehrat ions, last minute shopping and caroling on Beacon Hill. January— Septe mher. I J5(). W ' ith eight months to go, the patient seems in ex- cellent spirits, at times slightK ' euphoric, and occasionally very tired. On the whole her condition is good, for she has received the satisfaction for which she was search- ing, and in addition has accpiired poise, tact, cuid an incorrigible sense of humor. ow she is hurrying through specialty studies and tests, on to the next and last ste)7 in her plan of care — student assistant in arious departments throughout the hospital. Whth that behind her. she will he ready for discharge, bolstered by such important therapy as lu‘r Senior Bam(uet. her Senior Formal. Commencement exercises on the Bulliiuh lawn, the Baccalaureate ser ice. and fiiui lly that last morning when she will change from the tired ‘ checks to the glistening white of tlx ' graduate nurse and once again look in the mirror to see her head crowned with her daintv black-handed cap and her uniform complem ‘nted liN’ the blue and gold .MCI I pin. Tl ten otd ’ will her cure he comph ' te. Date t l discharge: Septendjer 3. 1030. Operation: None. Treatment: 3 years extensive stud and tests. .- dmission diagnosis: Acute desire to nurse. Final diagnosis: Chronic desire to nurse. Prognosis: Fxcelh ' nt. Janet Pat B. [ 18 ]

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I liey often have passes to plays in town — Irc ' e lor I lie asking, except for tlie tax. on never know liow tlie ])lay will he, hat it certainly is fun lincling out. A few of us went swinnning at the I he other night. 1 hey charge very little and e en furnish tlie hathing suits. I )oes it seem jjossihle that your little girl wi II he in lier second year of training after February Third. ' ' We really have to start thinking about raising money for gradu- ation and the yearljook. There are already plans for a Valentine’s Dance right after our vacation. Must get dressed for work now. See you real soon. OodI es o f I ov e, Imogene June 15. lO-lQ I )ear Anabel, Here f am at B.F.I., and at last Im all moved in enough to find my stationery to write to ou. Imogene comes over here when I leave, hut even though she s still at MCdl, I e seen her (piite often. I m on relief in the nursery, and we ve been to Rev ' ere iiearK e ' er da ' this we ‘k. I don t think I told you about our spring dance, did ] We had an (“xtra one in April to raise money to send Iwo girls to Cleveland to the N.f-.N.E. meet- ing. I he preparation lor the dance ' as loads of fun, and the dance was heaveiiK’. W ve been to the Fops r(uite a few times this spring, and were all looking forward lo the Esplanade Concerts, ’hich begin jiretty soon. I here is nothing like silting on the grass on the Esplanade ith a moon above, beautiful music, and the lights on the river. I hear someone screaming for a fourth for hriclgi ' , so I must oblige you know! I -ove. September 19, 1949 Dear Mom and Dad. ol training behind me! Since we ve gone in ith the class ahead of us on our year- book, we re alreadv getting everything in for it. We ve e en had our pictures taken in hites. A year and lour months will just lly by, with all we have lo do. W go Irom here to Mcf-ecUi Hospital for three months, as you kno . Everyone seems to compare McLean to acation since it has many activities. 1 understand that there are even sho|jping trips with the patients. 1 am glad were going in winter because my tennis playing wou Id he anything hut therapeutic. Imogene. in the other section, will go on vacation from B.E.I. and then go to McLean. Of course. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New ears come while I m still at McLean, and that shoidd he gay! After we get hack, w ' e ve still got an eight weeks affiliation at the Eye and Ear Infirmary and our three months of jiediatrics, j:ilus loads of classes. Next June, unbelievable as it seems, we ha e our formal graduation with September s class. Sounds as though well he busy, doesn I it. ' ' That s only the beginning, however, be- cause there II he two Christmas Eormals yet, and a June Eormal. and proha hly our own Senior one, too. Of course, there are always things coming up unexpectedly, and sometime in the midst of all this activity we ve got to dig in and make some money! E ’entually we II lake o ' er the traditional senior fudge find brownie sales in the brick corridor, as w ' ell as the Eriday night dances, and we undotdiledly think of some original affairs loo. At this rale, Eehruary, 1951. will he U[)on us, and w ' e II he buying white stockings before we ve had time to darn the holes in the black ones, hut I m sure we shall miss them and also the familiar checks. See vou next week — v3- 1 i-ao-- Just think, next home on vacation. week at this time I II he A year and eight monlfis Much lov I-iz c, [ 20 }