The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-26
Glass Of IS Nurses at R. |.
hospital Get Diplomas.
HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING
Received Words Of Counsel From Or. VIII
liam R. White, Rev. Samuel H. Webb
and Robert |. GammelL

In his words OF counsel 10 the gradual
ing class OF Is capable young women OF
the Rhode Island Hospital Training
School for Nurses last night. Dr. VIII
liam r. White OF this city spoke OF the
ever growing importance or the WORK OF
their profession, picturing In glowing
terms the splendid work OF a nurse In
recent New York railway accident, where
she calmed the excited ones and applied
first dressings 10 the injured with strlps
torn from her petticoat
In marked contrast he held up the act
OF the other nurse who eloped Win an
ex-mayor, saying II was fortunate thns
for the world that this lack OF essential
principles required by true nurse ana
woman cropped out thus early In her
career we'll trained though she was In
the best schools.
II was an excellent exercise. this nrst
formal graduation OF nurses at the Rhode
Island hospital and the Royal G. Tart
building for outpatients was crowded 10
the doors when the members OF the class
clad I'm snowy gowns and the dainty white
caps with the black band, emblem or
their graduation. for the first time march
ed IN 10 the march rendered by the Estro
trio.
In the audience were a number OF nurses
in the cool. immaculate hospital uniform,
which added n little touch OF the hospita
70 the scene. but other than that 1t
might have been a graduation or any
college. The young women have com
pleted n three years course OF vigorous
training and are qualified 10 care for all
sorts Of cases now. the doctors say.
There was a small platform AZ the up
per end OF the building which was banked
by a wall OF potted plants and ferns,
while the wall was concealed with a drap-
cry OF American flags against which
bouquets 81 snowballs and wistaria
sprays were prettly contrasted.
A large fac-simile OF the design OF the
gold and enamel graduation badge pre-
sented to the nurses was the central fig
ure OF the decorative scheme. and the bal
cony was hung with bunting
On the platform were DR.. Peters OF the
hospital. Rev. Samuel II. Webb. pastor
emeritus Of Christ church; DIR. william
r. White and R6oert l. Gammel. pres-
dent OF the Rhode Island hospital The
latter presided. and, after bidding the
essemblage welcome said: Twenty-four
years ago the Rhode Island hospital was
opened 10 tho public and there came 10
N as now Rev Mr.. Webb. hale and
hearty and now In his second youth
fntroduce,him 10 you.
EARLY HOSPITAL DAYS.
Rev. Mr.. Webb spoke a tlength OF the
growth OF the hospital and said from
It's Inception the hospital did a good work,
but IL is doing a better one now
There are not many OF you remember
those days, you graduates Indeed | will
venture TO say that not one OF you was
Born then. i do not know the age OF a
single one OF you. but. Of course, | know
that some are older than others. AT one
time. l remember there was a sign pasted
up In ward, LESS Noise in this Ward"
by order Of the superintendent. Some
body cut out a part OF sign from a
bottle OF bitters and made II read "Wo-
hoo" How long. doctor, do you suppose
you would allow that sign TO stay up
or the need for Il TO exist.
remember another time a ward maid
stole a batch Of gingerbread. and an old
time nurse held her up and made her
give up half or she'd tell the superin-
tendent.
] am not telling these things to make
fun, only 10 show how things have
changed, and | smile sometimes when I
recall a midnight visit TO ward / made
then. All the patients had either night
caps or bandan1 handkerchief on their
heads and he red blue and brown ban-
kets made II a rather brilliant place
suppose no man has had more scraps
over the hospital than /. for hardly
day passes. but I am called upon 10 de-
fend II from some malgner Any instl-
tuition that serves the public must stand
criticism. but no institution is more ma
lignei than a hospital, I find.
What would this country do without its
trained nurses? The days when the old
auntie or granny went out nursing have
passed away, and IT may be a good thing
As YOU are entering upon your life's work
you will not find II all easy. You know
this. II you are TO he nurses you must
he prepared to sink self deeply but not
too deeply. l do not believe that in this
enlightened age we need become mar
tyrs.
CHANGES IN NURSING.
You will he subject to criticism, but
always do your best. Look upon the
featies OF the suffering humanity with
kindliness fhcart and exercise tact
Those OF YOU who haven't Il In suffl-
cient degree develop ~, but get H. Do
unto others as you would be done by.
whether you are or not I wish you every
success.
Mr.. Gammell said that the hospital stan
Is not a walking stick. but an organlza-
tion. and have the pleasure Of intro
duclng 10 you Or. White OF the staff
He was received with applause and
spoke In. n happy vein OF the occasion.
OF the preceding speaker and OF the
weather. the beautiful evening he re.
garding as a good omen for the class
Having been connected with the hos
pital ever since he was inferno. % years
ago. he said he had been able to watch
the growth OF the structure and OF the
work. and he referred 10 the few sur
vivors OF the stan and visions that he
knew os since that time.
"Tn no department has there been
greater changes than In that OF the
nurses. Those who were familiar with
old conditions can appreciate the differ
ence ! wonder II the rigorous discipline
OF the training these young women have
undergone has been I'm any way detri-
mentHi IN them as women. I think not
see no evidence that health or strength
has been impaired. I cannot believe that
they have lost any Of the attributes that
are part OF the nature of n woman"
OF woMANLY TENDERNESS