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

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CTIVITIES AND Rose West, Sherry Anderson, Joy Hill, and Jewell Harrell gather around Mrs. Thomas to say their good-byes. Mrs. Isabeile Jones Thomas or “Izzie” as she was known to most of us here, came to work for Watts at the Staff House on Broad Street in June 1945. At that time she was working part-time as she had some young children at home that also needed her care. She worked at the Staff House until 1968 when it was closed. From there she came to Wyche House until her retirement in August 1975. She had worked 30 years for Watts. zzie meant a Jot to many students past and present. She shared a lot of memo- ries with us and as she retired a small part of our memories went with her. Unwrapping her gift, Mrs. Isabelle Thomas seems quite pleased with the robe. A nice group picture! 12

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CELEBRATION OF Watts Hospital donated by George Washington Watts opened its doors to the public on February 20, 1895. This first hospital was l o- cated on West Main Street, but by 1909 this facility was inadequate to meet the demands of the public, so George Watts had the present hospital known as Watts built. The first graduate from Watts School of Nursing, Ethe! Clay, can- stituted the entire graduating class in 1897. Admission requirements into the school had not been established and the most qualified high school applicants were selected. The training program for students was increased from two years to three years in 1908 while Mary Wyche was the administrator of the hospital and the school. The eight-hour duty for student nurses was instituted in 1914. After working eight hours the students then went to class. Most of the nursing was done by students wearing yards and yards of petticoats, skirts, leg-o-mutton sleeves with tight-fitting cuffs, aprons with bibs and high-top shoes so the ankles could not be seen. The teaching staff consisted of the superintendent of nurses, her assistant, if she had one, and the staff doctors. It was not until 1926 that the first full- time instructor was employed. Because of the lack of graduate nurs- es, advanced student nurses were assigned special duty with a patient and the hospital was responsible for their work. This cost the patient fess than for a graduate nurse. In 1929 nursing students 4 Id classroom. worked approximately 70-80 hours a week. The freshmen and junior ath, students were paid a stipend of $10 a month and the seniors re- ceived $15 a month. However, in 1931 during the Depression these payments were discontinued. It was at this time that Senior students served as head nurses until 1932 when the first Watts graduate staff nurses were hired. These nurses earned $25 a month plus room and board, and they worked 56 hours a week, relieving students in the pharmacy, on ambulance call, and scrubbing in the Operating Room and Delivery Room. The hours of work were reduced to 48 hours by 1943 and it was not until March 1, 1953 that the 40 hour work week was instituted. There have been many changes in the school over the years. In 1973 the school had its first male graduate. The first married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kornegay, graduated in 1974. To date the school has had 1,759 graduates. The enrollment of students as of August 1975 is 184 with 18 full-time faculty, one librarian, one recruiter and one director. Freshmen students attend North Carolina Central University for the basic science courses and English. The juniors average about 16-20 hours a week in clinical and the seniors average 20-24 hours a week. The clinical experience for the freshmen aver- ages 4-8 hours per week. As of June 22, 1971 Watts Hospital joined the Durham County Hospital Corporation, which was formed for a consolidated health program for the citizens of Durham. Watts Hospital is to be phased out as an acute care hospital and by 1976 Durham County General Hospital will take over this service. 14