Watts School of Nursing - White Cap Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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Top row, left to right: BETSY WADE, Morehead City, N. C.; “By her own efforts she will climb.” WINIFRED WARREN, Dunn, N. C:; “Boys are like streetcars, there'll be another along in a minute.” RUTH WATKINS, Black Mountain, N. C:; “She has a heart as big as her mouth.”’ Bottom row: MARTHA WRENN, Hillsboro, N. C.; “Her ready wit, her cheerful smile, make her welcome all the while.” Ny We came, we saw, we worked, we conquered and we made it!

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Top row, left to right: CAROLYN PITTARD, Cedar Grove, N C.; “Ambition rules her brain, but love, her heart.” LOUISERROBINSON Pinks) aN. “Her heart won't be broken.” BETSY ROOKER, Henderson, N. C,; “Take it easy, have your fun, let the old world flicker on.” 16 Bottom row: MARY SUE SIZEMORE, Oak Ridge, Tenn. ; ‘I might as well take my time there’s a whole life ahead of me.”’ ETHEL SMITH, Kinston, N. C.; “Through determination, her dreams will come true.” ELIZABETH STEPHENSON, Mebane, N: ©.; “Smatl in statue mou reianoemic everything that makes a friend.”

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Hass History of (954 Proud caps, swishing uniforms, excitement, and thrills . . . these were a few of the many reasons forty-nine carefree maidens were led to become what are called “Angels of Mercy.” We broke ties with our families and close friends to enter a mysterious process of becoming a nurse, as we entered The Watts Hospital School of Nursing on September 30, 1951. The first days of enthusiasm quickly resolved to many delusions, as the weeks dragged on. ‘‘Miss Chase’? was the only person who did what we wanted. Remember all the many treatments she was given? Everything from enemas to our hypos ... and ‘Oscar’? who always stayed in his metal cabinet . “girls”? you must remember that the femur is ‘“‘wight’’ here. Will we ever forget that first day on the wards? The only thing we knew how to do was give a bed bath. Don’t forget your bath blanket. . . . How about a drink of water, Miss Happer? ? ? ? ? Our first quarter of classes ended and after the most impressive experience of caroling through the hospital (which we’ll never forget), we packed our bags and got the first possible ride heading home for a week of freedom at Christmas. This week soon passed and we were back at Watts in the same grind. Would those classes ever end? ? ? Each day we were beginning to feel like a part of the hospital team, although we were scared to death every time a white uniform or a doctor passed. Finally all our exams were over and the greatest day in our nursing career came. On Sunday, June 29, 1952, we received our caps at Trinity Methodist Church. Remember how still we held our heads, afraid that our caps would fall? The next morning rising time was an hour early; after all, we had to place our caps correctly. We soon became aware that our learning days were only beginning as some of us went to O. R. What’s that tapping on my shoulder? None other than Miss Carden demanding a sponge count. Some of us worked night duty and others worked 2:30-11:00. Would we ever see our classmates again? ? The summer finally ended with only 33 of the original class remaining, but there was a new class of pre-clinicals arriving. It was a wonderful feeling to know that we were advancing up the ladder towards our goal ...a registered nurse, and that we were no longer the “‘probies.”’ We moved in our second year with our rotation on Obstetrics. Remember that D. R. call? Why did the “stork” always have to come at 3 a.m., and why did there have to be a full moon every month? Even though we stayed up all ni ght and worked all day, we still had classes. There was one class we’ll never forget! Sociology, and the four girls we miss so much because of this class. Again we were glad to see summer come, because it seemed the only thing we accomplished this year was our selection of class pins. What a scramble we had deciding on whether they would be plain, with pearls, or rubies! Maybe if we could survive this summer we would be loved by someone if we could only become SENIORS. The summer passed slowly but soon we were declared seniors and we proudly tacked the small, satin black band on our caps. What a happy occasion it was when we were headed for ‘“‘Dix Hill” for three months of Psychiatric Affiliation. We'll never forget those days. Those long walks to work, to classes, to meals, and then back to work. The social life was wonderful—always a date! ! Those three months passed quickly and we were again at Watts. It was nice to be back and not being awakened every morning at 7 a.m. by ‘‘Maxine” and her opera singing. By this time our class had decreased to 29 but with the addition of five senior students from Kinston, our enrollment increased to 34. Who knows! ! Our cla ss may not be the smallest to graduate from Watts Hospital after all. Along the way our last specialty came. Pediatrics and all of the 7 a.m. ward ee the combinations of all the cribs, and the fractional dosages of emerol. With all the girls back from ‘the Hill” and vacation, we were living in every nook and corner—anywhere there was six feet to put a bed. We all felt 8) eee! SN) because we knew that we only had a few more weeks together as a Class. During the week of graduation and all of its excitement, we realized that our training had ended. As we leave our classmates, underclassmen, faculty, co- workers, doctors, and interns, we bid you farewell but our many memories will always remain .. . “THROUGH THE YEARS.” HENRIETTA FISHEL 18