Evening star., 1938-10-02
School ofNursiag at c. U.
Trains Professions Leaders
Experiment Cr0,os to Be
Vitcl Force in Its
Line.
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

1naugurated at time when the
profession Of nursing was never more
over-crowded. but was nevertheless
without 4 sunicient number of pre-
pared leaders to meet the demands OF
= changing society. Catholic Univer-
sity's School Of Nursing Education Is
the only educational service Of its
kind in the District and one Of 23
similar accredited professional schools
in the United States.
It's beginnings 60 back to Its sum-
mer sessions Of 1882 when for the first
time in its history and that Of the
city Of Washington, the university
offered . group Of professional courses
in nursing education.
These were, the institution quite
frankly states, "an educational expert
ment to test out in practical way
the extent of the need for such courses
and the university's adaptability for
this type Of education"
Tender bedside care and compass
sionate nursing skill were age-old
concepts, associated with those who
BY precept and example dedicated their
lives to the relief Of suffering hu-
manity. Their training. however. was
notably in the school Of practical ex-
perience with only a few. especially
in the field of higher Catholic edu-
cation, being afforded the privilege OF
advanced opportunities.
Goes Beyond Nursing.
Az there existed already too many
schools Of nursing Offering the basic
course, it seemed that the objective
of the new, school Of nursing educa-
ton could be accomplished best by
berinning after the period Of general
training and experience in the nursing
field.
Accordingly, preparation for admin
iktration. supervision and teaching IN
schools Of nursing was offered. Later
public health nursing was added. with
observation and field work in admin
istration, supervision and teaching.
Today the unit Of work which has
grown out of that experiment is =
nationally accredited division OF the
Catholic University, under the imme-
diate direction Of Sister Olivia. o. S.
B., r. N, A. NJ, who is its dean. The
letters after her name signify Order
of st. Benedict, registered nurse and
master of arts, Columbia Univer-
sity. Her religious order is one OF the
Oldest and most noted in the Roman
Catholic Church and numbers among
its famous members st. Hildegrade.
distinguished for her contributions to
the early field of medicine IS well as
that Of nursing.
Interviewed near the close of one OF
the schools busiest registratoin days,
Sister Olivia, in the many-times
pleated white colt Of this order and
black robes, seemed as calm as the
proverbial summer sea. Immediately,
though, one sensed the efdcient execu-
tive who has the scope Of the school
and every detail of its management
in hand.
Peaceful Wait Provided.
Her system Of receiving guests and
applicants for the school is In itself
unique. In the business-like ONCE
next to her secretary the door closes
behind you, even to the drawing down
Of . little shade In the doors narrow
window like aperture. 30 however i'm
patiently you have waited past the
designated hour Of your appointment,
you have your reward in the absence
Of interruption when your own con-
ference time Is reached.
Hers is a broad and comprehensive
background Of preparation for the
service she Is now rendering. It
ranges from high school graduation
in the vicinity Of Virginia, Mimi. to
that of St. Mary's School Of Nursing as