Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing - Lamp Yearbook (Dayton, OH)

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An Interpretation s gg I :-,. QCD 1 I i, .,,.,. mg Earn 3IJinH3bive E have wrought this insignia of our school out of fine gold, which to us represents true womanhood. i In recognition of the eternal truth that it is not given to man to create, but only to discover and develop, we have sought to express our consciousness that we have not put into the woman any vital thing, but rather have drawn forth only what was latent in her being, In other words, out of the precious metal of womanhood we have labored to produce the nurse. Therefore, we have not stamped into the gold but have wrought out of it our symbol of nursehood. Our Insignia is a Perfect Square, the sides of which represent four elemental qualifica- cations of a nurse. The First Side of the Square is Knowledge. To this we give a two-fold interpretation: first, knowledge of self, without which no one can be strong to meet the exigencies of life, and second, knowledge of her profession. The Second Side of the Square is Faith: expressing her belief in God, humanity and herself. This faith becomes stable through, if indeed it does not emerge from, her knowledge of herself, because through the latter she interprets both God and her fellow- being, From her knowledge of herself and of her profession, coupled with her faith in God, humanity and self, she gathers courage, without which her life as a nurse would be utterly impossible. Therefore, The Third Side of the Square is Courage. Out of knowledge, faith and courage, service comes forth as a plant in fertile soil. Service is the ideal reality of a nurse's life. It is essentially altruistic. It is a warm, vigorous, pulsating thing, It bespeaks life. It stands in sharp contrast to the idea of sacrifice, which for ages has been inseparably associated in the public mind with our profession. But sacrifice suggests death and, at best, expresses something austere and cheerless. Indeed, its original significance was expiation or renunciation in the hope of personal gain. In contrast to service, therefore, it is even cold and selfish, Therefore, have we chosen Service as The Base of Our Square. In the center of this square is found a Grecian lamp with steady flame, expressing watchfulness. To this also we have given a two-fold interpretation: first, watchfulness unto self, that the nurse's life shall not belie her ideals, and second, vigilance over the well-being of her patients. Until now, each of you has, consciously or unconsciously, lived within the protection of your school, which has been not less your guardian than your teacher. From hence, we send you forth as a mariner on an untried sea, with a fervent prayer that, through all the perils of doubt, perplexity and terrible responsibility which you must encounter, this medal may be your compass and your guiding star. Therefore, fastening this symbol of honor and trust upon your breast, we enjoin you to bear forever your share in the maintenance of its lofty ideal, thereby proving the words of the C ' ' ,Q poet, 'The Ideal is the Real. -'v 3 6 'ke

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if QA 2.- if The Florence Nightingale Pledge I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to elevate the standard of my pro- fession and will hold in conjidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family ajairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

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