St Anthonys School of Nursing - Acorn Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK)

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,K lyfwflfrm L- A, in K .WV I? Q. I 1. ' boa I CLASS : MI-IISTORY .I al Once upon a time, in the year 1949, a dramatic event occurred. To 64 young ladies however, it was more than an event and more than dramatic. It was history mak- day, St. Anthony's School of Nursing ing. For on that became their new home. All those strange staring faces . . .that incessant hum of conversation. In which room am I going td live? .... more inportant, with whom am I going to live?,' Then the overwhelming thought, What have I done now? But there was no time for such reflection. As part of orientation each of the new girls had a big sisterl' to aid them in getting acquainted with the nurses, home and its occupants, as well as to encourage and cheer them. But, my goodness, that en- courage and cheer business! Somehow, a 'lyou don't know what you're in for, but you'll find out attitude could be detected. Well, on with in schools of this t in the daily schedule at St. Anthony's. For four months, classes reigned supreme! And at the end of that time the Uprobiesl' were confidant that they had left little unlearned. Along with all the learning, extracurricular activities had been delved into .... a hen party in the auditorium once in awhile, a few dates with real honest to goodness men. learned early the histor ! Classes, the usual attraction y . . ype, certainly didn,t take a back seat . . .and our tender young things delicate are of griping. In uniform at last, the bright-eyed lassies were eagerly anticipating their first venture .... actual general floor duty. The likes of that day will surely go down in the annals of history! Me? .... give an enema. . . . oh, gee what if it doesn't work! Oh, I couldn't stick them with that needle! Don't look at me, Doctor, I'm new here! And it didn't help matters any to see full- fledged junior and senior nurses rushing around looking important .... how did they do it? The thought that some day they would be doing that seemed fantastic. And then there was the strange sensation of acute pity and fascination as they looked at the dying and even began to care for them. God moves in strange ways .... they learned that very soon. The first goal was reached by these young ladies when they received at last their dignity, personified in a little white cap. By theri they had become accustomed to living with strange girls in close quarters .... sharing the bath .... being in at ten olclock every night, and a few other strange things. And capping had one very gratifying reward .... no more study hall from eight to nine o'clock each evening. Doesn't sound like much, but that one hour had knocked a hole in many an even- ing. Now, in cap and uniform, the new freshmen pranced onto the floor looking very intelligent .... inwardly, they felt the terrible truth, oh, how cruel is ignorance! You know, this all sounds kind of funny, now, but really, it wasnlt. The times they wondered if 'lbath-giving would ever be ended and bedpans emptied. . . .the times they curbed the urge to squelch the sweet smiling creature who sailed by with an Aren't you through, yet? Mistakes were their teachers, and what teachers! Pages and pages could be written on those months of orientation. Freshmen became juniors, then, came night duties and reliefs .... later on, senior duties. Yes, they were people of note, they felt .... for about fifteen minutes .... then came the storm. On relief, it was, Did you see that order?', Why hasnlt my patient had the hot packs I ordered? .... I've been waiting for a hypo for hours! And on night duty, My light has been on for an hourg what're you doing out there, pitching horse- shoes? You have an emergency coming in .... get oxygen up and a suction ready! Uh-huh, they were people of note. Would they ever learn? Wouldn't they be better stenographers or librarians,'or housewives? The answer was always no, however, when a patient said, You've made me feel so much better .... you're a good nurse! And they really said that once in awhile! In the midst of this torrent came sweet relief, there were summer vacations .... sounded like heaven! And swimming in their own pool .... playing tennis and soft-ball occasionally, if they felt they could stand the strain, and other little tidbits of fun here and there. These things always gave the needed lift. Within the next few months Sister began posting some dates on the bulletin board .... that meant psy- chiatric affiliation .... three months away from St. Anthony's! Oh, joy! Oh, bliss! Little did they know how soon those exclamations would run more like this, Take me back home! If I have to stay here another day, I'll go crazyll' But they stayed, and they didn't go crazy. And coming home was good. With affiliation had begun for most of them, the problem of getting in their major requirements. Things were moving a little faster, now. There was three months of Obstetrics. . . .a happy place most of the time, and then that long- feared time in surgery. What a disciplining place! They X' fi if? N .3,,., ki- .hcl 1. i v ' I . 5,-A j Y 5 W ., I Dm ' I S -

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1 I I., W' l .f J p q rfo A65 ',.A ,Hag 2- O , f- 1 wk W didn't do anything right except go off duty. They tripped over light cords, contaminated suture, and con- sequently, became fast friends with the doctors! About this time the Junior-Senior banquet and prom was the talk of the nurses' home. Never will the date- situationn be forgotten! Every girl wanted to go with a tall, cute man just as though he were right outside her door, waiting to go with her on that special night! But all problems were solved .... everyone had a dateg and come the evening of the big event, you've never seen a more beautiful bevy of girls. Time crept along fit seemedj , and in the senior year, the girls received a precious article of clothing .... a blue and red cape. Oh, can you imagine the wonderful sensation of being a senior and wearing a cape! Those first two years may have been worth it, after all. Were people staring at them in admiration and envy or did they dream it? Three more months and one more requirement .... Pediatrics. There they learned about the little ones, from a few months old to 14 years. Oh, those little monsters! They wouldn't eat, they wanted Mommy, and they C A fp Q if .5 wanted to go home, and so it went. More than once the urge to turn up that part of the anatomy designed for sitting and apply the hand with force was stifled with effort. But, children's department wasn't all that way. . . .it was a joy to see thin, sick babies bloom into health, to hear them laugh and make cute remarks and to see Mommy and Daddy happy because their baby was get- ting well. Then it was springtime, 1952, and .... you guessed it! Graduation time was drawing near. Senior Day, going to Mass and then eating breakfast with their mothers brought the first full realization that they were leaving St. Anthonyls soon. There was picture-taking all over the lawn .... excited talking and laughing. Really, in their graduate uniforms, they were the personification of true professional dignity and beauty. For a few min- utes, anyway. And this was the time that the true sophistication of the seniors was seen .... for they had to dress upl' to attend teas which were given in their honor. Oh, they were so refined. The teas were truly lovely and the seniors appreciated and enjoyed them very much. is NS .gui S .1 .fW?QWwM,, f A T ' X ,Zi ,W N- f 1 W is Y L .y ta iii. qi On May 10, 1952, S1 young ladies .... thirteen less than with which the group had started .... received their diplomas. This certified that they had each com- pleted three years of nurses, training and were now full- fledged graduate nurses. Were these the same girls who entered training in 1949? No, there was a difference. These girls were not only no longer student nurses, they were women. They looked to the future with memories of friendships made, with the courage to accept life in its entirety and with a silent word of thanks to the Friend who had helped them through three long years. Those years had left an indelible mark on the charac- ters of these women. God grant that it be a mark holy in nature, and if so, that it may remain forever en- graved. RUTH STARKER Illustrations: HELEN Jo BRICKELL Class '52