The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-28

o'clock a large concourse OF invited
guests assembled to witness the grad
uatinS exercises of the training school
for nurses of st. Vincents Hospital
The hall was prettily lighted and the
stage had been arranged and decorated
with taste. The six attractive young
ladies, who composed the graduating
class. entered and ranged themselves
in a semi-circle.
THE PROGRAMME.
An enjoyable programme was then
rendered, Mrs. Madden and Mrs. Hodges
alternating with each at the piano.
The salutatory was delivered by Miss
Eleanora Carlos.
Miss Magee then rendered one of her
most charming vocal solos, which was
followed by recitation by ST. Marys
elocution class-"Romance Without
Words" the second part OF which, can
Spinnmaedcheu." was recited by Miss
NJ. Madden.
DIR. GWATHB1EY'S ADDRESS.
The next feature was the address to
the graduates. Delivered by DR.. LomaX
Gwathmey. The Doctors remarks WERE
In part, as follows:
1t is with great pleasure that I ac-
cept the honor bestowed upon me this
afternoon of addressing the second
class graduating from the training
school of st. Vincent's Hospital.
My interest in the success of this
school is deep and absorbing and might
be said to date from even before it's
organization.
1t was not until returning to Norfolk
10 practice that first realized the nee
essity OF good nursing in private. and
the helpleSSneSS of surgeon and physi-
clan amid the vast strides of science
and modern method without trained,
intelligent nurse to comprehend the pos
sibilities and need of skill, arising in a
calling where life and death seem often
so evenly balanced.
Tradition has handed down to us his
tories numbered of the many years
where Sisters of Charity were almost
our only nurses, ever ready at a word
for duty, and in time of pestilence and
warfare, Sans peur, sans reproche."
Yet. with the clear, broad vision given
to those who work unselfishly for hui
manty with no outlook to the future
and desire to maintain the record so
nobiy won, realizing that nurses must
be trained for every department of ser
vice to aid the Sisters and prepared and
fitted for outside private work, the
plan Of n training school at ST. Vim
cents Hospital was laid before me-
and with alacrity 1 accepted the re-
sponsibility which might fail to me In
its first years of establishment. and am
equally glad to be identified with every
effort reaching toward success.
Part of my duties have given me
peculiar and individual interest in each
pupil nurse, and now with this preface
l may surely claim the privilege OF
telling you a few plain truths and a
very little advice gained from long as
ISOLATION with all grades of nurses. and
solely i'll the hope of helping as | my
self have been helped.
Our institutions will one day awake in
the South, as they have i'm the North
to the fact that on the cXcellency Of
their nurses in the care of their patients
VIII depend in great part their stand
ing and advancement. y lower, much
lower, death rate has attended the
growth of training schools in hospitals
comfort in sickness displaced distress
of mind and body and each patient
going forth helps to break down the
formerly just prejudice of the laity
against hospitals. and is the best and
most productive advertisement a hos
pital can wish or have.
y HIGH STANDARD NEEDED.
Early in my hospital life / leaned
on the practical sense and broad hu-
mainly of my first head nurse, and
rested my theory packed brain in learn
ing TO really help people who were sick
Many hospital inferno would do well
to learn such lessons. rather than have
that scorn for details born of the proud
distinction Of being superior and 4 doc
tor, degree that any fool with Il little
money and spare time can unfortunate
ly attain.
he lildltIlai vi winch 10 make nurses
should be of the bcst-it cannot be too
good-and to no one is this knowledge
of more Importance than to the nurse
herself l would like to see a prelim-
nary education a requisite to entrance
into a training school, an education
comprising something beyond the mere
smattcring of literature. and a very for
NAL and easily renowned acquaintance
with languages which seems to be the
required standard for the girl graduate.
Some knowledge of dietetics, a little
chemistry. the ability to cook practically
and many other thinds. the least of
which is not proper understanding of
the duties of life and the limited ma
ture of our own brains. There should
be present an activity of mind and body
tempered with the lapse of sufficient
years to regulate and direct its action.
The advantages of this training are in
estimabie and after the graduation
such steps must be taken to continue a
course which has just begun, and is by
no means finished. II is my most ear
nest desire to impress upon you the
necessity for further education, we can
not bid the sea retire, we must advance
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