Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-06
0-ht SIRE prtss.
TRAINING SCHOOL FUR NURSES.
Interesting Exercises of the Gradual
Ing Class,

Ing Glass.
The Training School for Nurses, at The
Mary Fletcher hospital, graduated, Thurs.
day, the first class in its history,-a class Of
seven young ladies. The school has been in
existence for three years, and has thus com.
plctcd the first period of time required by its
course of study. The graduating exercises
were held in the amphtheatre of the
hospital at 3 o'clock in the after
noon, and an interested audience of
ladies and gentlemen was present.
DR.. Walter Carpenter, president OF the
Hoard of Trustees of the Hospital, presided,
and upon the platform with him were Prcs-
dent Buckham, DR.. A. j. Willard, superin-
tcndcnt of the hospital, Prof. j. l. Bliss, and
Lion r. f. Wales. Singing was furnished
by the L. " Nj. glee club quartette. The
exercises opened with music by the glee
club after which prayer was offered by
Rev. j. |. Bliss. DIR. Carpenter then pleas
antly addressed the graduating class, speak
Ing of the hopes Of the trustees with respect
20 the graduates and the future of the school,
aluding to the mission Of the trained nurse,
and the reward which she is to seek and
closed with presenting the graduates with
their diplomae.
After a selection by the glee club DR.. Car
pcner called upon President Buckham, who
responded with the following remarks
president Buckham's Remarks.
lIr. resident, ladies and gentlemen The
experiment on which this school entered,
three years ago, has been attended with a
success, not brilliant, indeed, but gratifying
and satisfactory in every respect. l learn
from the superintendent that of the 43 per-
sons who have attended lectures in this
school, 80 have attended one full course and
seven have attended all three courses. One
feature of the schools work-aLd a very
gratifying one to the truslc has
been The attendance upon our lectults If
ladies' rot looking forward to nursing as II
profession, but as a means OF qualifying
themselves for usefulness in a domestic,
friendly or philanthropic capacity. will
say, speaking for myself, that among recent
forms of feminine activity none is more graf
flying to me than the profession OF Lurslng
none less Ostentatious, none more womanly.
l suppose that it is very little known in the
community and the State that there is such
school as this, where, in so short while,
and with so little expense, ladies may learn
these very important matters relating to the
care of the sick If il were generally known,
feel sure that, as Dr. Carpenter has said |
these seats would be filed with ladies from
all parts of the State But, after all, the voca- |
ton of this school is to train professional |
nurses. And there is great need of such |
nurses. The general estimation of the |
nurse is that she is a being who is to
be avoided in the family as long
possible, and whose presence IS to be shun- |
ned as much as possible. Now | think |
that this is because of the lack of experience |
and womanly qualities which the good |
nurse ought to possess But when the con- |
trpst ,ha have been observed between the |
lussy demeanor and disaerecablc ways of the |
old fashioned nurse and the delicate and |
skillful touch, the fOrothought and readiness |
in Emergency of the trained nurse, what re-
lief to the mind and body, not only OF the |
sick one but of the whole family, will be |
confessed Then we should no more think !
Of employing an unqualified nurse than we
should of employing an unqualified phys- |
clan. There is one thing which | will say to |
these pupils, and speak for myself person.
alv am thankful to the wise Creator and |
good Father, that Inc has put it into the |
minds aud hearts of some women to look |
"pOn this profession Of nursing as desirable, |
Is interesting, rs fulfilling their ambition |
70 some it may seem strange ch0ic" and |
dismal lie TO be always among sick |
people, but snrc' you do not 50
70 case main aud alleviate suffering, to as
sisl the weak. to brnt back the glow Of
healh-can anything be more interesting, |!
even more fascinating, IAN this Let me say |
- vou, n al l,ntress hint if you have not |
some OF tins feenua you Lave mistaken your |,
vocation. We all believe an hope that the
fact of your having chosen this profession
indicates the pre- sence of this kind and gentle
and sympathetic feeling. There is one other
thing that | would say to you to-day-not
that it needs to be said, for you have often
heard it before You are no, doctors Of
medicine The diplomas which you have
received do not authorize you to practice
medicine. You are not to sit in judgment
o. the doctor. You are not to instill sus-
picione into the patients mind. Be loyal to
the doctor You are the landmarks Of
medicine and it is honor enough, and
satisfaction and reward enough, to be good
nurses.
! will not dwell long upon the
qualities aud Ticics which should
should belong to the good nurse. The three
Indispensable moral qualities are vigilance,
patience, gcntleness. These are in part the
gilt Of nature, in part the result of training,
largely the reward of experience.
You now 90 into that best schools the
school of experience. You are our first
graduates, and as such you will be watched
and criticized. Bear this in mind, and not
only for your own sakes. but for the sake Of
tn school, do your best and know that by
so doing you will persuade others to follow
your example
And now, in closing, we ought never to
get together within these walls without re-
mcmbeung the kind.hearted woman who
has made these things possible for u.s. |
will not even mention her name, that 1t may
b. welcomed With applause. Let 1t be
greeted rather with that silent respect
which best BELTS her gentle, unassuming
character And let us not forget to recog-
niae the debt of gratitude Which We owe to
III lecturers OF this school. Their lators
have been but poorly rcqlicd indeed, but it
is to them we owe in greatest measure the
success We claim on this occasion.
Dr. Carpenter then announced that, as the
need Of an assistant head nurse at the Hos
ptal had been for some time felt, 1t had
hccn decided by the trustees to choose such
an assistant from the graduating class, max
ing the best examination mark and most
crcd;tablc record the criterion. The honor
was announced to have been awarded to
Miss l.. j. WashLurne; and the announce
n,ent was received with applause.
TIE exercises closed with a selection by
the gee club.