Mercy College of Nursing - Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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' - , , toss ?;„,,.„ RAOUATE OF ■; ICAN RED CROSS NURSE AMERICAN RED CROSS NURSE DATg- Department of Nursing Helen Abel and E. (Car swell) LricKson watcn Ellen Welch pre- view lor tlie Alumnae Ffisnion Snow to raise Inncls lor tne Mae Murpliy Scnolarship. Mildred (Zeisir) Cyrein. Aliunnae president, looks on as Anita Riccn- uiti, the nrst scholarship graduate, caps the incoming scholarship student, Lois Robinson.

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Mae MurpKy Graduated IQl 1 Died 1949 Red Cross Nurse Honored Story in Retrospect By Mrs. Ada Endres Frisk. R.N. I oriiu-rly Director ot Nursing Service. San Dietfn ( (unity CKapter. AnLcrican Red Cross. 1031-1052 Aliout April. K 52. wliilc discussing Red Cross Nurse Ladges with our iKcounlanl in llie San Diego Red Cross Kadge lliat liad been turned in for safekeeping a year or more ago was tnentioned. On seeing I said. W ' liv. this is a Red ( ro.ss Nurse hadge and card— and should have hm-n relumed to National Hi vh..l In du ,th .Mi ' f Ml. I having a Director al ih.- tii Chapter, a ihat nadge. quarters. iiinlani hnd put the had: ge Of course, not knov in safekeeping. The nurse was Miss Mae Murphy, and Iht school was St. Joseph s Hospital Training S hool— which is now Mercy College of Nursing— in San Diego, in contacting the Superintendent of Nurses at Mercy Hospital, ahoui Miss Murphy, she stated that Miss Murphy was the 18th graduate of the school of nursing— having completed her training in September. 1911. She died in April. 1949. here in San Diego. Sister also stated that Miss Murphy was one of their most fionored graduates, because of her great interest in the nursing profession. She requested the badge and card for the Scfiooi of Nursing— to be made into a plaque, and (o be kept in the School of Nursing on display. The Mercy Colle e of Nursing Atumnae set up a scholarship three years ago. to be given outright to one student each year entering Mercy College of Nursing. This scholarship fund is called the Mae Murphy Scholarship Fund, in honor of Miss Murphy. It is not a loan fund, but an outright gift. This year— in September, 1952 — the hrst )-year student who was awarded the scholarsfiip will graduate: so the Red Cross Nurse badge which Miss Murphy so proudly wore has greater meaning to the school now than before. Mae Murphy enrolled as a Red Cross Nurse in August. 1918. during World War I. She served until ih ' end of tlie war. Among the volunteer ser ' ices she performed for Red Cross was helping to recruit nurses for the Long Beach earthquake disaster of 19 53. Miss Murphy was always proud lo be a Red Cross Nurse, wearing her badge whenever she wore her nurses uniform. She served on the Volunteer Nurses Aide Committee for the San Diego Chapter during World War II. The mainstay oi Mae Murphy s life was in trying to better conditions for nurses, especially in California. She had a wonderfid organizing ability, and was very active in legislation for nurses. She ser ' ed as President of District Eight. California State Nurses Association, for a term; was chairman of the Private Duty Nurse Section of District Eight; and served on the Board of Directors of the California State Nurses ' Association. Miss Murphy often spent her own funds to further the best interests of nurses, especially in legislation. She was instrumental In setting up a fund which is to be used by District Eight (at some future date) to open a professional registry for nurses in San Diego. This fund now totals $1500.00 and cannot be used for any other purpose. Having ser -ed as an Army Nurse during World War I. Miss Murphy was active in the American Legion in San Diego: also tlie Veterans of Foreign Wars. Not having known Miss Murphy myself. I feel proud lo know thai we have nurses in the Red Cross and in the Nursing profession like her. Only by an error wa- her bailg . still lu-re in San Diego— but it is an error that has worked out very well for everyone concerned. Excerpt. CSN.A. District 8 News Bulletin July. 1952

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FROM THE SCRAF BOOK OF 1322 | C Of S o s s Surgeon s Office U. S. ARMY Fort Rosecrans, California Temporary Naval Hospital San Diego. Calif. August 10, 1903 I o the Sisters. St. Joseph s Hospital: The sailors at the Naval Hospital send their respects and sincere thanks to the Sisters at St. Joseph s Hospital. The sher- bet was delicious, and it was much enjoyed by all the patients. They feel most grateful to tlie Sisters for their kind thought. Very respectfully, s The Surgeon in Charge Benninptoi) Disaster It was a dismal tragedy which took j)lace hist week down by the City of the Silver Gate. The sympathy of the entire nation went out to the olhcers and men o f the ill-fated Bennington that came so near to utter destruction in what is, perhaps, the most placid sea on earth. The people of San Uicgo must have felt as the people of Havan.v in that awful nigiit seven years ago. It is no trilling occurrence Ihatj brings half a laindred dead to a small city ' s doors and puts half ar hundred more wounded unto death in its hospitals. Even this appalling occurrence had its consoling features. Those wlio survived tlie catastrophe showed a striking devotion to the car« of their suffering comrades and paid honorable tribute to those who had answered the last bugle call. All the hospitals in San Diego opened wide their doors to care for the stricken sailor men. True to tlie obligation of their noble profession, tlie doctors gathered to du whatever may be done to alleviate pain and hold back in many a broken body the flickering spark of life. The women, too, cain,e ircm tlieir homes and tlieir families to give their kindly encouragement and gentle ministrations. Not last nor least of the efforts put forth on the sad occasion were those of the Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of this community have served on many a battlefield, and are evei; will- ing workers when the cry of pain comes from the men wlio guard tlie nation ' s flag. St. Joseph ' s Sanitarium in San Diego did its full duty to the gallant jackies of the Bennington. It is M tlint n.o Vq,.,. rin.,.,,. - J- ■• ' - ..-j-.-i. -• ■ ■■