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(J~ss
Three years ago, a group of young women entered Methodist Hospital
with the hopes of becoming nurses of the first caliber. Three long years, or
so we thought , lay ahead of us in which to learn and grow.
Today, as we look back. those three years seem to have sped by with
amazing rapidity. Yes, we have learned not only those fundamentals of
caring for the sick and injured , but also the meaning of true friendship and
cooperation. We have lived , played, worked and prayed together, transform–
ing that group of women of three years previous into a close family, all work–
ing towards one single goal.
We, as any group, have had our ups and downs . First we wondered if
we would ever master those weird sciences of microbiology, pharmacology,
physiology, and the techniques of nursing care. Many were the nights that
we wondered , after hours of study. if we would ever be worthy to be called
"Nurse". Although the studies were not easy, and the exams equally diffi–
cult, our first year here at Methodist was a memorable one . Friendships were
formed which, we hope , will never be broken. and we all became adjusted to
group living.
Before we realized what had happened , we were busy sewing on that
precious black band showing the world that we had reached our Junior year.
The middle of the road - no longer able to rely on teachers and clinical
instructors for help at all times, but not yet confident in our own abilities
as nurses. Now we worked evenings and nights. Oh , the first night shift
alone was something none of us will ever forget . That year we really became
an active part of hospital life . The doctors and nurses who had been strangers
in white uniforms , were now our friends with whom we worked for the benefit
of our patients.
Specialties began that year. Our knees shook and our hearts were hard
to swallow the first time we entered the operating room. But here some of
us found our favorite fields , and all of us left a little less apprehensive of the
mysterious world of surgery and sterile technique .
In specialties we found ourselves developing those little tricks of giving
care to those with definite and different needs .
That year held more than nurs ing in store for us. Will anyone forget
the class play:> Hours of rehearsing . memorizing lines and worry were fre–
quent, but after the opening night we all saw it's worth . We never knew tnat
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