Saskatchewan Hospital - Yearbook (North Battleford, Saskatchewan Canada)

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VALEDICTORY T oday marks the end of our training for Psychiatric Nursing. When we started our course, three years ago, we looked at graduation as a very long term goal, almost beyond our reach; now, our perspective of time has changed and it seems on ' .y a short time since we experienced the anxiety of our examination. Our training involved hard work, disturbing experiences and studies which often seemed to bear little relation to our main objective. But, by facing these demands and fulfilling them, we are obtaining not only a Psychiatric Nursing diploma, but also a sense of achievement which Will remain with us throughout the rest of our lives. Today also marks the separation of the members of ths c.ass, and for this experience a tinge cf sorrow. Together, we have shared moments of stress proceeding the examinations, the unseemingly long wait for our marks, the long hours of study and also many happy moments during social gatherings. Some of us will use the course as a stepping stone to the acquirement of further studies and with them, go our best wishes for the fulfillment of their goals. To those who are going to stay, incur the responsibility to further their knowledge in order to remain a productive member of the team that contributes to the care of our patients. Psychiatric Nursing is a dynamic field and, only by keeping up with the new developments in our profession, can we hope to serve the function for which we have been trained. We are very fortunate to enter a career offering the opportunities of working in a field which presents un¬ limited scope for achievement, purpose and personal satis¬ faction. Our deepest gratitude goes to our parents who are directly responsible for the honor bestowed on us today. Through their sacrifices and good example, they gave us the opportunity to incorporate a set of values and edu¬ cation needed to become eligible for this training. We are most thankful to them for giving us the privilege to enter a field where we can secure a reward, as helping people not as fortunate as we are. Our thanks also to the administration, doctors, head nurses, supervisors, and senior nurses for their under¬ standing and valuable help. To them, we pledge to be as efficient as possible, to make up for our past inadequacy with which they graciously delt. Thanks also to our teachers for their patience and de¬ voted help in many areas of difficulty which we en¬ countered. Our best wishes of luck to our junior classes in the achievement of their goals. If they feel that “the sword of Damocles” is hanging over their heads, may we tell them that hard work and real interest will give them the necessary confidence to reach their own grad¬ uation. Tomorrow, we will work in our profession under a new status. May we take the pledge to remain the Psy¬ chiatric Nurses we have been trained to be, to better our knowledge to the best of our ability, so that we can give with confidence, and will, the best care to these entrusted to us. In closing I would like to quote a short poem by Thomas Gray, titled: Always Finish - “If a task is once began Never leave it till its done Be the labour great or small Do it well or not at all.” • - John Martin

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r. Walter A. Edwards

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GRADUATES