Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing - Oak Yearbook (Williamsport, PA)

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Walking out through the dimly lit chapel, a feeling of humility overwhelmed me as I realized the new responsibilities of being a capped nurse. Back to classes again ... I first learned of our Student Gov- ernment Organization in Professional Adjustments class. I eagerly awaited the first meeting to see how it was conducted. Arriving in Medical Hall I found nearly all the upperclassmen and they actually made me, a probie , feel at ease. The president conducted the meeting in such an informal way that, because I was an equal here, I soon lost my shyness and began to participate. Our elected advisers from the faculty also took part and kept us posted on current problems, new drugs, and procedures. I later became aware of our school ' s participation in our State Student Nurses Association. I hoped that sometime I could visit another nursing school and learn how their school compared with mine. Student Government also provided social life for all of us. It was fun to help with parties, picnics, dances, and other activities. I realized that during mv three years of training, the Student Government meetings would tend to bring me closer to my school and establish a feeling of security and good-will among the entire student body. In the wee hours of the morning 5:45 a. m., my eyes heavy with sleep, I slowly found mv weary way to the Diet Kitchen. 18

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One morning the alarm rang a hall hour earlier— I had a new uniform to don for the first time. I had pondered late into the night wondering how I ' d master that hlaek tie. But the one consola- tion was that I would be taking another step forward toward my goal —a graduate nurse. With the help of mv roommate, I won the struggle and arrived neatly on duty at 7:00 A. M. My heart lightened as I thought of Thanksgiving vacation— a break in the routine. This meant only four more weeks till Christ- mas and then full time duty. The town girls worked Christmas week, while the country girls went home for vacation, and anxious- ly awaited their week of duty at New Year ' s. Will I or won ' t I pass the finals at the college? was the next burning question. The hours of studying, cramming and worrving were over. Now all I could do was anxiously await the final decision. The Saturday morning when grades would be known was slow in arriving but finally it came— 1 had made it! Perhaps the biggest hurdle was jumped— capping would be the prize. On March 14, 1954, the long awaited day arrived. After having admired the white starched cap of the nursing profession, the da had come when I was receiving one ol m vcr own. o As I walked on the stage and the instructor placed the cap on my head, I had a feeling of pride and accomplishment to think that I had gotten this far in mv training period. Standing there with mv classmates, it seemed as if the ceremony would never end so I could show off mv crown to the waiting rela- tives and friends. Glancing into the audience, my eyes fell on my family, their laces beaming with pride for thev had been as anxious as I for this moment to arrive. 17

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You see . . . this was my first specialty and since 1 had just received mv first stripe, I was feeling quite proud of myself. However, 1 was terrified at the thought of cooking breakfast for fifty patients, for I had had no previous ex perience in cooking. With mv first stripe feeling smaller and less significant by this time, I started on my first assignment. I soon learned from the dietitian in charge, that, ol all the special diets: gall bladder, low salt, bland, sippy, low residue, etc., the student ' s main responsibilitv was for the diabetic trays. Mv work consisted of getting the trays ready to serve, preparing salads and desserts, serving the food and, of course, washing the dishes. Although I worked hard, 1 also had fun . . . much to the dis- ma) of the dietitians. Some of mv misfortunes included hard boiling the soft-cooked eggs; scalding myself with coffee; getting caught with a milk-shake in mv hand; and finding myself locked in the food freezer! At the end of the four weeks I must have looked as if I needed a change because I was sent to mv next specialty . . . Central Supply. To mv delight, I found it was a place where I could work while lis- tening to the radio, just like home. While in Central, I learned to appreciate the many tasks performed to provide the entire hospital with sterile supplies. Little had 1 realized the intricate preparation required to provide the sterile equipment I used to take for granted. STUDENT GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Seated, Left to Right- Patricia Gentry, President; Arlene Quimbv, First Vice-President; Mary E. Meyers, Faculty Adviser; Eloise Mattem, Secretary; Emily Reynolds, Treasurer. Standing— Catherine McCaleb, Roberta Woods, Gloria Zuchowski, Bette Vll, Charlene Hart, Sen. ml Vice-President; Elaine Justice, Beverly Schriner. 19