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

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To briwhtcn our holiday festivities many of us attended the Medical Ball, held at Christmas time at the Lycoming Hotel. The hospital also sponsored a Christmas party for employees to add to the holiday spirit. The entertainment, both professional and ama- teur, was great, and after the main program everyone present danced till dawn. Every Christmas, all of us participated in a party for the children of The Williamsport Home, which was held in the Recreation Hall. Who had the most fun is hard to determine . . . the wee kids or the student nurses. Santa was present with his bag of tovs and candv for all and, with his encouragement, the kiddies sang for their supper . My heart felt big as I realized how much the spirit of Christmas meant to everyone. My Intermediate year was devoted to money-raising for a ban- quet in honor of the senior nurses, soon to be graduates. I did my share of the work necessary to have successful candv sales, bake sales, etc. The hard work paid off when my classmates and I were hostess- es to the seniors at the Village Tea Room on August 31, 1955. To top off the delicious food and entertainment, our guest speaker was Dr. William Todhunter, a member of the surgical staff. After this event, 1 looked forward to being a guest at next year ' s banquet. Some real fun took place at the Y. W. C. A., where I played basketball, volleyball and relaxed in the swimming pool. I was looking forward to vacation this year, when I would have four weeks for complete relaxation. Some of mv classmates were for- tunate enough to spend their vacations in Florida. $ £ 23

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E. E. N. T., and Dermatology . . . accompanied bv another inter- esting course in Orthopaedics where the two stripers were taught to be observant. I also had rav first chance to see the real delivery of a baby and to attend our pre-natal clinic. Care studies, which were detailed descriptions of a particular patient and disease, took much concentrated time and effort. During my three years, six of these studies were written. While in my Intermediate year, I started mv fourth specialty . . . Obstetrics. This included floor duty, nursery, labor and deliv- ery and my second seige of night duty. My first impression of Obstetrics was through the observation windows of the delivery room as a new-born baby was arriving. In the labor and delivery suite, I spent four weeks observing patients in labor, assisting with deliveries and doing general clean-up. To help with the birth of a baby gave me a feeling of warmth and satisfaction, for I was helping with the miracle of life itself. I also spent four weeks caring for the post-partum patient. This included observing the new mothers until they were discharged. Again I spent time in O. B. clinic assisting the doctor while examining patients, taking necessary information, and helping to educate the expectant mother. Mv last four weeks were spent in the nursery, fully caring for the newborn babies, feeding the premies and teaching the mothers to care for their new babies. O. B. was a specialty which would benefit any girl, be she nurse or mother. 22

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In July, I enjoyed the picnic at Sportsman ' s Picnic Grounds sponsored by the Student Government. After a full day of swim- ming and sun-bathing, we built a fire and cooked our supper. Hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and watermelons provided the center- piece for my empty stomach. I was rather stiff and sore from the day ' s workout, but not as sore as those who absorbed too much of the Loyalsock sun. I want my mommie, was the cry that greeted me as I entered the door marked Pediatrics . . . the world of the little folk. ' Mid kicking feet, flying arms, squirming bodies and tearful faces, I attempted to carry out my morning routine of baths, injec- tions, hair combing and telling stories. My capabilities were put to a test as I tried to be both parent and nurse to the apprehensive child. Night duty offered a neyv challenge, for, without a graduate nurse present, I was faced with the responsibility of making correct decisions. Many times a soft light, a comforting voice or a touch of the hand would allay the fears of a small child in the darkest hours of the night. I left the world of the little folk vyith memories of my experi- ence perhaps always to linger with me. Again a new class of probies arrived, and became little sis- ters ' ' for my class. Each one of us did our best to orient them to nursino and the medical world. In a few months, they combined their talents with the intermediates and seniors to organize a glee club, singing for their own benefit or group activities. I especially 24