Rockingham Memorial Hospital School of Nursing - Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

Page 16 text:

IUST LET ME ASK YOU NURSE There's something I wanna ask you nurse, Something I'd like to know Are you really glad that you're a nurse? Answer me before you go. There's many things l've wondered about since l've been here in bed. Like why can't I get up and play, like my brother Ted? l've wondered about you too, nurse, ya didn't know I bet. And some of the things I ain't figured out yet. lust let me ask you nurse, is it sad to see somebody die? And just how do you know what to say when a Mom asks Why ? There are so many, many others here, that I just don't rightly see How you can always manage a special smile for me. How come you wear your hat in here, and leave it when you go? My Pa, he woulda busted me if I'd worn mine inside, you know. But most important, I gotta ask, do you always dress in white? But please don't ever change that, nurse, that color seems just right. You really do keep clean, what with all the things you do My Ma, she'd sure be proud, to have a kid like you. just let me ask you nurse, where do all the pills come from? And how do you know just when we're all supposed to get some? How come you don't bring them all at once, sure save a lot of time, y Maybe then we'd have more time to talk at night before ya go. You always seem to know when I'm feeling at my worst, Ya know if I weren't a boy, I'd wanna be a nurse. You must be in a hurry, tho' ya never 'peer to be. Ifm really glad that you've spent this much time with me. I won't ask you no more questions, nurse, I'm sort of tired tonight. My tummy feels real funny and my head just don't feel right. But before you slip so quietly out and turn the lights down low, Would you stay in here while I say my prayers tonight before you go? And just let me ask you this, nurse, before I shut my eyes, Do you ever get two big tears in your eyes, before a person dies? There ain't a reason in this world why you should wanna cry. Mama keeps tellin' me that I'Il soon be well, but I know it isn't true, But don't worry, nurse, when I get to heaven, I'll save a place for you. ou know

Page 15 text:

Aerial view showing the hospital structure in 1973. The Nurse's Home can be seen in back of the hospital. The year 1968 saw the addition of Il and III North wing, Pediatrics on 5th, and the new Recovery Room, Operating Room, X-ray and Lab Departments. illllllliwm to E lv' 9 9 1 ,f .iil ig Z in its own way due to the ex- 1 panding and changing of the Nursing and Medical profes- sions in our fast moving society RMH will continue to grow In 1975, construction was com- pleted on the new Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, Coro- nary Care Unit, and Progressive Care Unit being opened. 4 . i 43, , i E1,R: j5,.:?,:,,e. . .W - . --:,4u- .-... ,wi me

Page 17 text:

Addie Kratzer Stroud-graduate of 1919