New-York tribune., 1884-01-09
TWENTY-SEEEY NURSES GRADUATED.
ELEVENTH COMMENCEMENT Oh TIE TRAINING
SCHOOL.

ELEVENTH COMMENCEMENT Oh TIE TRAINING
SCHOOL.
The Society of the Training School for Nurses
attached to Bellevue Hospital held Its eleventh annual
commencement last evening Twenty.seven young
women received diplomas. report OF the work done
during the year read and an address made by
DR.. I. Gallsrd Thomas. Among the managers present
were Mrs. William II. Osborne, Mrs Robert Woodwork,
Mrs. John A. swett Mrs. l. NJ. Adams Mrs. Whitelaw
Reid, Mrs James w. Pinchot and Miss susan Travers.
William T.. Dodge presided Prayer was offered by the
Rev. Arthur Brooks and the annual report read by
DR.. Murray. The following Is summary OF the report:
The school opened in 1873 by thirteen women, to
whom entrusted the nursing OF four wards IN Bellevue
Hospital 1t numbers sixty pupils and has charge
OF 25s beds in fourteen medical and surgical wards the
surgis and Marquand PavIlions and the Emergency
Hospital attached TO Bellevue The school also nursed
125 private last year Since opening los
have been graduated Of whom 25 engaged In hospital
work and 1877 In private nursing There sl3 calls
for private last year. Of which 1874 had be de-
cined all nurses being engaged at the times app
cation over 300 applications for entrance to the school
ceped The general health Of the students has been
eeea The expenses last year exceeded the receipts by
S3,oOO, Two friends supplying the deficit.
Letters read pralslng the work Of graduates Of
the school in Rome. The expenses last year S2l
s35 "a. In his address DR.. Thomas saidi
You stand here tonight ready TO so forth TO your life
equipped for its Intelligent performance in answer TO the
enterprise and devotion Of handful OF pubhcsprited
women OF NewYork who twelve years ago. insprfted by
the suggestions Of Florence Nightingale sowed the seed
OF which you the fruit Little do they know little do
you know, for but busy physician in this Metrop
oils apprcciate-the wonderful changes that
their efforts have brought about In the OF the sckS
Up to that time the nurse elderly, amiable ur
bane and wOfuy ignorant person, who regarded smil
ing face, smpering manner, and an imposing head
dress the essentials for practice. Twelve years
these ladies OF NewYork as II by the waving Of amag
clans wand changed all tnis In the twtnkng OF eye.
Lady managers OF the Training School for Nurses 10
the medical profession Of this city recognize obligations
for tho work that you have done. In striking down false
and corrupt system you have ghteued the doctors task
and in the sesame stroke have carried blessing to
the houses OF the sick and comfort 70 the suffering nyour
community. Many have sriven to enlarge the sphere OF
labor for by opening IL the learned professions
medicine, OF law and OF divinity thus bringing the labor
Of into competition with that OF The lady
managers OF this school have looked for 1t IN field
which lay faOw their very door, and yet field as
noble, useful and cOnsOnant with wOmanS nature as
any that civilization offers mankind. The educated
the lieutenant Of tine physician In the sick
who replaces him IN his ABSENCE watches for him the
approach Of danger reports to him the progress OF the
case and time of sudden and dangerous emergencies
acts for him 10 the best Of her ability. Yet we ask
you nurses, whether this position IS not sufficiently
lofty sufficiently responsible one, to satisfy the
ambition Of any Could any greater trust be i'm.
posed upon you, any greater confidence placed in
you were sculptor, actress a prlma donna lawyer
physicianl
At the close OF the address 70 tho class the diplomas
conferred upon the graduates and Mr. Brooks pro-
nOunced the benedctiOn.