06/20/2024
Celebrating 60 years of Friendship 1960-2020
In early September of 1957 sixty young women were welcomed to the Saint John General Hospital School of Nursing to begin a journey towards a career in nursing. Three years later, we proudly walked across the stage and received our Nursing Diplomas as family and friends applauded the new General graduates.
What happened between September, 1957 and June 1960 could be likened to the caterpillar’s emergence as a butterfly! We were under the watchful eyes of our residence supervisors, head nurses, upper classmates, doctors, orderlies, and patients. They all had a hand in our journey and in the transformation necessary for us to reach our professional goals.
We endured the black stockings, the black “old lady” shoes, the starched uniform collars, the 1pm classes after working all night, the sheer determination to document our shifts with ink and straight pens without blotting, and the morning inspections. We remember learning to make beds with square corners, the long scary nights at the Annex, taking the shortcut through the underground passage to the residence, being called at 3am to scrub for an emergency in the operating room (after coming off duty at 11pm), running over to Brun’s to spend our coveted $6.00 allowance/month, our time in the case room, being sent to 7th floor for a fallopian tube, making formula and sterilizing bottles in the nursery, and time spent on pediatrics, neurosurgery, male and female surgery and of course 3 north!
Our patients created special memories. They taught us how to just “be“, assuring us that our presence gave them hope. We learned that words were not always necessary! They taught us the importance of listening, and being willing to walk with them on their journeys. Their “thank you” meant so much. We understood the miracle of birth as well as the mystery of death. All of these lessons have shaped our lives.
We look back to the varied opportunities we have had to “care” in communities across Canada and the United States. We fondly remember our journey together and the powerful influence our training has had on our lives. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19 we are unable to gather to celebrate together and repeat once again our usual chorus of “you have not changed one bit”. When we left the hallowed halls of the old General, we carried pieces of each other in our hearts! We indeed celebrate our 60 years of friendship and career opportunities.
Thank you, classmates of the 1960 class of the Saint John General Hospital School of Nursing!
Sharon A. O’Donnell O’Brien, RN, written 2020
(1938-2024)
