The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-05
OATH FoR TRAINED NURSES.
Women Subscribe to Modified Form
of HippOcratic Pledge.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
At the annual commencement of the
New York School for Trained Nurses, held
in the chapel of the City Hospital on
Blackwels Island yesterday, Mrs. Cad
walader Jones, chairman of the Advisory
Board of the school, caused general sur
prise by submitting to the graduating
class of ffty-two young women modified
form of the Oath of Hippocrates," to
which they readily subscribed.
Mrs. Jones. in presenting the diplomas,
spoke as follows
Until very recently, women have had
so little part in any actual competition
with men that they have been exempt
from many rules by which men are gov
erned, but the old order is changed. and
with a share Of mems honors and emol-
uments, we must also be prepared to ac-
cept their responsibilities.
THE trained nurse necessarily occupies
in the household a position of confidence
compared to which even the physician
is secondary. She is there at all times,
while his visits are occasional, by day
and by night all that goes on in the sick
room and outside it, must also inevitably
be known to her.
IL is to the credit of your profession
that, so far as l know, the knowledge
thus gained has never been seriously
abused but there is a feeling, not gen
eral, perhaps, but widespread, that nurses
gossip more or less in one house about
what has happened in another.
LAS doubtless you all know, a physi-
clan who graduates from a reputable
medical school takes upon his graduation
what is known as the oath of Hippo
crates That great physician lived more
than two thousand years ago. and schol-
airs think that this oath may have been
old even in his day. The gods by whom
the ancients swore have been discarded,
but duty and honor remain immortal.
II will ask you to listen to version of
the Hippocratic OATH modified to suit
your profession, and when you have heard
it, to accept its obligations and to OBJ
serve them faithfully.
You do solemniy swear, each by what
ever she holds most sacred:
THAT you will be loyal to the physi-
clans under whom you serve. as a good
soldier is loyal 10 his officers.
That you will be just and generous to
all worthy members of your profession,
aiding them when il will be in your pow
er TO do so.
That you will live your lives and lead
your profession in uprightness and honor.
That into whatsoever house you shall
enter It shall be for the good of the sick
to the utmost of your power, and that
You will hold yourselves aloof from all
temptation.
That whatsoever you shall see or hear
of the lives of men and women, whether
they be your patients or members of
their households, you will keep inviolably
secret, whether you are In other house
holds or among your own friends.
"If you accept these obligations let each
one bow the head In sign of acquiescence.
And now, If YOU shall be true to your
word. may prosperity and good repute be
ever yours; the opposite II you shall
prove yourselves foresworn"
Mrs. Cadwalader Jones modified YER
sion of the Hippocratic oath caused a
buzz of favorable comment among the
physicians aud other present.