Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-09

ALuMNAE HAVE ORGANIZED.
The graduates OF the Training School.
which IL now entering upon It's third
year. have proceeded to organize an
Alumrae Association. The object OF TINS
association Will be the promotion OF the
interests Of the nursing profession. the
establishment OF benefit fund for It's
sick or disabled members. or the endow-
ment OF bed or room in the Old Domin-
ion Hospital for the use OF the ~ gradu-
ates. and also TO ultimately secure anu
establish a nurses home and cluD Tot
the accommodation of both our pupil anu
graduate nurses.
1t IS evident that the school ana lis
work has developed considerably uu'ins
the past year. Positions as superinten.-
cnts. or head nurse. and graduate as
slstants. have been offered the graz 'a'es
in Austin CTex). Montgomery tAia.)' wv
I'm Virginia. two I'm Maryland. App.lca-
lions for a postgraduate course nave
been received from graduates OF some oi
the northern schools not attached 10
general hospitals. =
Whatever we may have achieved ~
due 10 the generous interest and assist
once Of the faculty OF the Medical ooi-
lego Of virginia and the Woman's Boaru
of Managers. and the appreciation oi
their efforts as materially expressed by
the City Council.
In closing this report / desire 10 eK-
press my appreciation OF the courteous
consideration and cooperation extehueu
70 me at all times by the faculty eS-
pecially the hospital staff; and a1so
acknowledged with pleasure the ehcou-
raging approval and prompt support Oh
my plans by the Board of Managers
4 PRACTICAL ADDRESS.
DR.. ]. J. Stone. Of Washington was
introduced as the orator OF the occasion
He extended very cordial welcome ~
the graduates. and said in part: e
have met this afternoon to DO hoior ~
this graduating class. Great credlt -
due them. / am Informed that thS
particular class has passed through Il
most complete course of two years. Inc
present is not the time or place LOT me
TO say that far too much Is expected
of young ladies in this time YET tne
fact that they have all attained over 20
per cent of the maximum number Vi
marks proves that their quahncauohS
are of a very high order. Let me say
TO YOU nurses. from a practical slailu-
point. that the first requisite ior the
nurses calling is good health. Next
comes the gospel of cleanliness, not ohiy
i'm dress and appearance, put III pouS
and mind. Cultivate tact You are ho"
about TO take your first lesson III pa
tience. A nurse without tact may as
well look after another calling. Nurses
should also cultivate silence. 1hey
should not speak of former patent
Nurses must have instincts OF reiiile-
ment. Let your idel be a high one.
ture Cultivate observation. Very much
depends on the cheerfulness of a nurse.
Nothing so helps the feeble to forget
their ills as being mnistered TO by one
of bright and cheerful disposition. 1t
must be exceptional that you sing the
praises of one physician TO another. III
is unpardonable TO mention TO a pa
tient the virtue and ability OF some other
physician than the one in attendance.
II Is better TO express no opinion at
all than TO speak disrespectfully OF
professional man. Do not be too ANXIOUS
lest your work should be done wlhout
reward You will earn what you get
but remember that physicians do Much
work for charity 49,,
The orator then eulogized the caiAiIs
of a nurse. and urged that they shouia
be shown always the utmost cohsluera-
ton. The triumphs Of modern surgery
he said. would have been Impossible
without the trained nurse.
THE SPECIAL AWARDS.
Mrs. Grace NJ. Shields then presented
the badges. In doing SO, she said the
badges were not merely souvenir Oh
the school. but were of as much value
as Diplomas. 1t is q mark of promotion
and professional standing, given 70
nurses as part of their equipment.
She spoke of the significance of the
word "FIdeles." adopted by the class OF
1896 and urged all to be faithful TO theH
high traditions. She explained that the
principal of the training school conferred
three special honors. the first, badge
IN the nurse most faithful in every de-
partment Of hospital work, which was
awarded to Miss Elizabeth Kellam; the
second q badge TO the nurse VINO nae
responded most cheerfully 10 all emer'
cency calls. and had been first TO Voluh
teer for extra service, awarded to Miss
Frances Peyton Ellyson. The thire
honor was an appointment 10 the stai
of nurses at Wilson Sanatarium, Mary
land given to Miss A. F. Hudson, az
the nurse who had been the most satis
factory to doctors. patients, the superin
tendent, and head nurses.
THE NINE GRADUATES.
DR. George Ben. Johnston delivered
the diplomas. which were tied with ole
gold and gray ribbons, the colors o.
| the nurses school. He gave expression
| TO the keen interest he felt in the school
DIR. Stone had alluded to the necessity
of a nurse attaining 70 per cent. IN ne
| examinations; it gave him pleasure, N
said. to announce that the average o
| this class had been 81 IL per cent.
| which was very much higher average
than that of any class turned out from
the Medical College. He then conferred
diplomas on the following graduates
Misses f. L. Ellyson. T. ID. Kearns, A
r. Hudson. +. NJ. Washington A. l.
| smith. c. H. Johnson. c. w. kreultner
b. u. Kellam, and c. T. Woods.
Following the presentation or IN
diplomas. each graduate was the recipien
of bouquets and clusters OF roses, sen
bv their friends. and the exercises close
with benediction pronounced by DR.. Car
michael.