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

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lUTII SLEEPER, R.N., M.A., L.ILl). Direclor of Ihe School of ursirm and Xursinf Serrire.

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THE OLD AND THE NEW I he drawing on the h ' ft is that of Ihilfim ' h hi ‘h vas in the year 1821. It Mas here that the first nurses of Massaehnset ts (General Hospital lived among the ineonvenienees and old-fashioned architeetnre. A feM other residenees have been built hetueen then ami iiom, the iieMest being Bartlett Hall Mhieh is pictured heloM . (Ground Mas broken f( r this resi lenee in 1952, and in May, 1953, eighty-eight senior student nurses ami sixty-six gra lnate nnrses moved into the hixiirions living quarters Mith its modern eonvenienees. Where the nurses hack in 1821 ha»l to sernh their om n uniforms ami clothes, and live all together in one room, the nurses of today have automatie laundries and in- dividual three room suites Mith all the mo«lern facilities for gracious living. Tridy Massachusetts General has provided a marvelous home for its nurses, and Me, the class of 1953 and 1954 are proud to have the privilege to he the first to reside in Bartlett Hall. BARTt-Crr HAUL eillelTc.

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l)t‘ur S«‘ni »rs: Uy the lime this letter reaehes you, muny menihers of the (llas.s will have made some plan for the eomin year. To make plans for future living ami work is. of eourse, one of the joys ami privileges of graduation. To have a plan to live hy is also one of the essentials of a happy life. Graduation which marks the transition from student days in nursing to those of nurse practitioner might well he likene l to a «loor which se|)arales a brief experience planned by others (your curriculum) and the great ex|)erienee which stretches ahea«l to he planned hy you, yourself (your life). The curriculum now behind you was built around an aim carefully chosen, and adopted as a guide for the selection of your student ex|)erience. It should have given meaning to the many activities scheduled for you day by day, or month hy month. It should have given you the direction which would enable you to lie all of these activities together into one large meaningful experience which was nursing edu- cation. (»ur first experience in nursing education is now hehiml y »u. hat now ? Vi ill you begin your graduate nurse years aimlessly waiting for one brief and exciting experience after another? Vi ill you have a long range plan for your personal and professional life or will you follow only personal whim, or seek constantly to find something new ? W hen you look hack five or ten years from now will you have only a series of brief experiences, an l wonder w hy you lack satisfac- tion, why you miss the slimidus of student days? Experiences lo not necessarily build experience in a profession or in a life. They are like the frosting of the cake, and so they have a role to play. For the frosting is a surprise to he enjoyed, a flavor to relish, a pretty thing to look at. often a treat to he anticipate ! w hen the last hit of cake has been eaten. Fo have experience is to have the substance of life; it is truly to live. But for such living there must he aim and plan. And both aim and plan must reach beyond self anti the immetliate satisfaction of personal lesire or whim. Every class on graduation leaves behind some special memory, some little tradition for oncoming stiulents, some special |)lace in the hearts of the faculty. Vie shall miss the Glass of 1953- ' .51. Vie shall welcome you all whenever there is time for a visit or a letter. From all of us to each one of you, good w ishes, good luck; Vi halever you «lo may you have a womlerfid experience! Jtr