Methodist Kahler School of Nursing - Link Yearbook (Rochester, MN)

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miss Pladson Hetires Miss Nina Pladson, a faculty member known by hundreds of students, retired in August of 1968 after 26 years of service to the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing. Miss Pladson graduated from the Kahler Hos- pitals School of Nursing in 1927. She attended State Teachers College in Mayville, North Dakota, and in 1947 she received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. In 1951 she earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. Her broad experience in nursing and in nursing education have made Miss Pladson a valuable member of the faculty. Her first position was head nurse at the Worrall Hospital Qtwo yearsl. Succeed- ing positions included that of supervisor Qfveyearsl and assistant superintendent Ctwo yearsj at Robert Long Hospital, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, instructor in nursing arts at Bismark Hos- pital, Bismark, North Dakota Cone yearj, assistant dean of women, State Teachers College, Mayville, North Dakota fthree uyearsj, instructor in nursing arts at Brokaw Hospital, Normal, Illinois Coneyearl, and instructor in charge of nursing courses during the freshman year at Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing C26 yearsj. Miss Pladson has always exemplified a role model of a nurse that students found inspirational. Her modern philosophy of nursing was consistently re- flected in all of her teaching. Her skill in demon- strating nursing care transformed the classroom setting into a realistic situation-revealing, perhaps, a hidden talent for acting. She also looks like an ideal nurse - impeccably groomed, attractive, calm and poised. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Miss Pladson provided understanding guidance to stu- dents in other roles. For 18 years, while she served as residence director at Colonial House, Delano, Palmer and Damon Halls, she listened to students' Problems, met their boy friends, shared the excite- ment of plans for careers and weddings. As adviser to the Classes of 1945, 1948, 1956, 1959 and 1962, she spent 15 years helping students to achieve group identification through social and organiza- tional activities. Miss Pladson's retirement marks the end of an era in the history of the school. The fall of 1968 is the first year in which no freshmen students were admitted g therefore, the nursing fundamentals de- partment was discontinued. During the years that Miss Pladson was in charge of this department, she helped it to grow. The staff was increased from two to five, which made it possible to provide guidance by instructors for students when they were in the clinical area. The physical facilities of the depart- ment were also improved. From its overcrowded and unattractive location in the basement of Kahler Hall, the department was first moved to the fourth floor of the Worrall Hospital annex and in 1966 to the fifth floor of the Colonial Building. Miss Pladson's skill in planning, and her good taste in decor, produced classroom facilities that were func- tionally efficient and attractive. On July 8, a party in her honor was held at Clara Madsen Hall and students, faculty and hos- pital staff came to wish her well. Miss Pladson now resides in her home town of Hatton, North Dakota, with a sister and brother. IH-H Graduate Promoted A news release sent from the Activities Ofiice of Walter Reed Army Medical Center reported that on January 18, 1968 Army Nurse, Major Marian C. I. Kennedy CMarz'an Itse, '47j, was pro- moted to Lieutenant Colonel in a ceremony at Walter Reed Hospital where she is a Supervisor of a surgical unit. Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy entered the mil- itary service in 1943 and served as a staff nurse in Iran and Italy until 1946 when she left the service. She was then employed as a head nurse at the Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma, Washington until 1951 when she re-entered the Army Nurse Corps. Her assignments since then were at Fort Lewis, Washington, two tours of duty in Japan, one in Okinawa, and at Fort Benning Georgia, Fort Leav- enworth Kansas, Fort Belvoir Virginia and in Korea just prior to her assignment at Walter Reed in October 1966. Nurse Kennedy and her husband Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Kennedy live in Silver Springs, Maryland. From Ruth Haarsma, '65, Jos, North Nigeria, W. Africa, January 1968: My work continues to be interesting-so many illnesses which I only read about and never saw while a student are becoming a real experience. In February I will be leaving the mission station for a few months of intensive language study. So far I have had to communicate through an inter- pretor which has many disadvantages.. In May I will begin teaching a course in anatomy to a class of mid-wives and thanks to all that I learned while at M-K I think I'll be able to man- age.

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HIL Sam For more than eight years Mr. Sammie Nelson, better known as 'fSam',, has been on intimate terms with every classroom, office, and the other buildings used by the school, thus he is well known by the teachers and students. Not only does Sam keep our school and part of our dormitory meticulously clean, but with his powerful hands he moves all heavy articles around the school with rugged skill, yet handles all our china and breakables with protective care. Both faculty and student requests for special assistance have been unfailingly met. Sam has always been a busy, hard-working man. Before coming to Rochester, he and his wife farmed for many years near Pine Island. In 1955 he joined the RMI-I staff as a houseman and in 1960 was assigned to the school. 'CI like my work - I try to keep the school so clean that no student will ever have to apologize for it.', Stunts that cause property damage, how- ever, make his temperature rise. Sam is close to students and understands them, we all are familiar with his cheerful smile and warm HI-Ii . Perhaps it's not unrealistic to conclude that Sam7s homemade brand of discipline and advice often delivered without the knowledge of the faculty has contributed to character building in a few students. During his spare time Sam enjoys Hshing and does carpentry work and gardening around his home. When our school closes in 1970, he plans to retire and move into a new home located on the Mississippi River at Wfabasha. The senior class wishes Sam the best, for all the happiness he has radiated with his smile and gen- uine concern. 'fThank you, Samf' Mary Behnke, 368 In November 1967 Dina O. Bremness, '27 retired from her position of administrator at the Glenwood Community Hospital. She had held that position for 35 years. In 1946-47 she served as president of the Minnesota Hospital Association. She now lives in Florida. Ill-H Graduate Gu-Huthnr Mrs. Harold Dison Ulforma Greenler, '52j is the co-author with Minette Nast Uatebf member zyf the faculgf, Hosjbitalfor Special Surgegz, New Torkj of the 4th edition of Simplified Drugs and Solutions Man- ual for Nurses. Mrs. Dison did the revision of this edition as Minette Nast was unable to do so because of illness. The new manual includes a simplified, thorough review of elementary arithmetic, the interrelation- ships of the metric and apothecary systems, exercises which apply these basics to clinical dosage calcula- tions, and new illustrations which demonstrate the relationships of various types of measurement equipment. A new presentation of the common household utensils which can be used for measure- ments has been added. The paper covered manual is 5M X 8M in size, contains 86 pages, 7 illustrations and costs 82.50 per copy. It was published in March 1968 by C. V. Mosby Company. The first three editions of this manual have been used primarily in Solutions and Dosage courses in Schools of Practical Nursing, however, it has also been adopted as a basic study guide in all types of nursing programs. Mrs. Dison held faculty positions at Methodist- Kahler as an assistant instructor in science, instruc- tor in Chemistry and medical-surgical nursing from 1952 - 1961. She holds a B.A. Degree from Val- paraiso University. Last year Mrs. Disonis first book, entitled An Atlas of Nursing Techniques , was published by C. V. Mosby Company. Retired Army Major Ethel Sylvester, 334 died on january 18, 1968 in the Veterans Hospital at Fargo, North Dakota. She was 55 years old and had been ill for several years. She served in the Nurse Corps for 16 years and had a 3 year tour of dity in several hospitals in Germany during World War II. She retired from military service on May 1, 1959 and returned to her home town Wadena, Minnesota where she had resided until her illness. Mrs. Henry Rader CNorma Bornfield, ,240 passed away on November 5, 1967. Mrs. L. C. Stuber CFern Heelland, '-Ml, passed away on january 31, 1968. Mrs. D. W. McConnell CLeona Dale, '32l, died on july 14, 1968. She had been ill for more than a year.

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7 i Hlumni Celebrate Seheels 50th Hnniversaru june 27-29 were gala emotion-packed days for those alumni who returned to M-K for Alumni Days 1968 to enjoy the usual events - but this year had an additional event that has not been usual. A two-day seminar sponsored by the Rochester Methodist Hospital on The Nursing Specialist preceded the reunion activities this year. Both the seminar and the reunion events were highlights of this year in which we commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of our school. Those who attended the seminars heard speakers Miss jean Yokes, nursing specialist, cardiovascular nursing, Kansas City Medical Center, Miss Flor- ence Blake, director, Masters program in pediatric nursing, University of Wisconsin, and Dr. David Trites, director of research, Rochester Methodist Hospital. The seminars offered a thorough descrip- tion of the functions of a nursing specialist, the academic and other requirements of this position, and stimulated a free exchange of ideas about this new type of health worker. Extensive participation by the audience enhanced the enthusiasm which marked all the sessions. Alumni returned from both coasts and many other parts of the United States C20 statesj as well as from such distant points as Geneva, Switzerland, and Alaska, approximately 500 joined in the fes- t1v1t1es. Major reunions were held by four classes with numerals ending in eight, but many alumni from other classes also attended. Registration figures showed the following totals for the reunion classes: 1928 - 22,1938 - 20,1948 - 51,1958 - 48. On Saturday morning alumni began pouring into Clara Madsen Hall where they were greeted by a huge banner reading Welcome Alumni . The coffee was a mixer where alumni'had a chance to communicate with classmates and faculty from gen- erations both before and since their own. From 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. reunion classes held special luncheons and had their class pictures taken. In the afternoon many took advantage of the tours through the Rochester Methodist Hospital and Clara Madsen Hall. As evening approached the scene shifted to the Kahler Hotel where over 450 alumni and visiting wives and husbands attended the banquet. Mrs. Edward Brackenbury, '42 was mistress of cere- monies for the after dinner program. The Reverend Raymond B. Spurlock gave the invocation. Dr. Gerald M. Needham brought greetings from the board of directors of the school and hospital. Miss Eleanor Smith, alumnus and director of our school, complimented the alumni on the excellent reputa- tion they have established as nurse practitioners which has reflected favorably on the school and also has served as a stimulus for keeping a quality program at M-K. In reviewing some historical facts she pointed out that during the past fifty years one hundred and fifteen M-K graduates have served their school as faculty members. She then paid tribute to two well-known faculty members who left the school in August. A standing ovation and applause saluted Miss Nina Pladson, '27, nurs- ing arts instructor, and Miss Myrl I. Peterson, '37, science instructor. At one point in the program, students wearing the M-K uniforms of the past passed in review while Miss Grace Lahre '29 amused everyone with her own original thumbnail sketch of M-K's history. Following the style show, the students lighted the candles on the large four-foot high birthday cake which the Rochester Methodist Hospital had pre- sented to the alumni in honor of the occasion. The highlight of the program came when Miss Lois Arneson '45, alumni president, unveiled and presented to Miss Smith for the school a cast iron replica of the M-K cap mounted on a wooden base, a gift from the alumni association. This object d' art is a permanent symbol of the school's con- tribution-that of serving humanity for fifty-two years. The model cap will be placed in the hospital so alumni past and future will always have a tan- gible reminder of their school's existence and its contributions to nursing and society. It also tells of the real feeling of loyalty alumni have for their alma mater. Closing our 50th birthday party Miss Marian Hall '33, standing in the glow of the candles on the cake, led the old grads in singing the original Alma Mater. The banquet was followed by a dance and parties which continued long past midnight. Comments and messages received since Alumni Days have been most complimentary. Alumni offi- cers and committees can take a well deserved pat on the back. Having a luncheon for those not in the reunion classes was a wonderful idea. All the meals were excellent and we too had an opportunity to visit. The weekend was an experience in sharing. Greetings, cordiality, coffee, memories, congratula- tions, gifts, honors, all added to the enthusiasm and excitement of the events. I enjoyed having the opportunity to see and hear members of the faculty we so appreciate. Another excellent part of the program was the style show and student chorus. It's good to see the pres- ent students - and they did their parts well. I wish to express thanks and appreciation to the alumni people in Rochester for all that was done for the Class of '48 and for me personally. It was an unforgettable experience. I have been back for all my class reunions and have long felt that our association has an excellent approach to a happy alumni weekend. As it is set up we oldsters coming back see our own generation yet we also feel close to other classes. We enjoy the signs of growth and progress but do not feel alienated. The alumni who came from Alaska, Switzer- land, California and other places at considerable expense all said, f'It was worth every cent, I wouldn't have missed it for anything. The large attendance at the dinner should indi- cate to all of you the interest in this alumni event. Surely we just celebrated one of the most successful Alumni Days.