ABERDEEN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING 1897-1995

The publication of this Anniversary Booklet signifies the end of an era in nursing education. Changing themes and focuses in health care delivery systems are reflected in revised approaches to nursing education. Diploma programs have been phased out in Nova Scotia. Entry to practice to the profession is a baccalaureate degree.

The Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing and its Alumnae are proud of its legacy. Graduates are employed across Canada and the United States as competent and respected nurses. Many have assumed leadership positions and are actively involved in the restructuring of the health care delivery systems.

The final class of thirty-eight graduated in July 1995. The total number graduated in the period 1897-1995 is eighteen hundred thirty-seven. The school maintained high standards as reflected in RNANS survey reports, registration examinations and surveys of employers. The curriculum, under the guidance of Sheila Scaravelli and Janet Doucette, was organized, dynamic and represented contemporary themes in nursing theory and education.

The school has always been fortunate in the quality of its faculty. Professional, competent, committed and caring, these teachers were devoted to providing the highest quality of nursing education. Former faculty members are currently employed in leadership roles within regional health care agencies – hospitals, long term care, ambulatory care and community based nursing. They bring to their new roles the same energy, commitment and ability to facilitate change processes.

Evelyn (Ross) Burke

Class of 1964

Director, School of Nursing

ABERDEEN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGY

1929 – 1966

The Aberdeen Hospital began training radiology technicians in the late 1920’s. The first technicians trained were also graduate nurses. Later the technologists were trained under Dr. A.E. Blackett and many classes were taken with the nursing students then under Miss Margaret Matheson, R.N. Nancy (Rhodenizer) Bennett was the last technologist to graduate from the “Old” Aberdeen Hospital in 1954. Mary (Chisolm) Dee was the first technologist to graduate from the “New” Aberdeen Hospital in 1955. Mary also received the first pin from the Department of Radiology upon graduation.

After Dr. Blackett’s passing in 1957 Dr. Bruce Miller assumed leadership of the Department of Radiology. Thirteen technologists were trained from 1958 – 1966. Dr. Miller was assisted by Dr. E.E. Henderson and Miss Shirley Ferguson, R.T.

Graduates of the School have found employment in both Canada and the U.S.A. We are grateful for being graduates of the Aberdeen Hospital School of Radiology and are proud to be members of the Alumnae and a part of this 100th Anniversary of the inception of the School of Nursing.

ABERDEEN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

1958 – 1972

         In 1955 following the move to the “New” Aberdeen Hospital, Dr. James Park became the first full-time pathologist in the Laboratory Department. Mr. William Bond was Chief Technician.

The first graduates of the program in Laboratory Technology were Pat (Cameron) Tutty and Marilyn (Pace) Rector in 1960.

The initial program consisted of a twelve month period of training at the Aberdeen Hospital, followed by a ten month training period in Halifax.

This school for the training of Lab Technicians continued until 1972, when through provincial requirements all such training programs were relocated to Halifax.

The last graduates (1972) were trained under the guidance of Dr. Shanti Sebastian, Medical Director of the Department and Fred Lays (1968) Chief Technologist.

The formal opening of the Aberdeen Hospital took place on March 25th, 1897; performing the duty was Sir Malachi Daly, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

The hospital was given its name, Aberdeen Hospital, in honour of John Campbell Gordon, Baronet of Nova Scotia, first Marquis of Aberdeen and Tamair, seventh Earl of Aberdeen, and Governor General of Canada 1893-1898. The current Earl of Aberdeen, Scotland, on the request of Dr. G.R. Douglas, consented to be a sponsor to the recently established “Aberdeen Hospital Foundation”.

The Reverend James W. Carruthers, DD, Minister of First Presbyterian Church, New Glasgow, N.S., “was largely responsible for the promotion and establishment of this institution”. (Taken from a plaque in the main entrance to the Aberdeen Hospital, erected by the Aberdeen Hospital Commission). He was supported by many of the influential people in the area, and the finances for the building and maintenance of the hospital were obtained by public subscriptions and grants from the towns and Municipality of Pictou County.

The building was erected on the corner of Stellarton Road and Hospital Avenue. The hospital had eighteen beds and an annex for contagious diseases. There was an outside nursing service, (similar to private duty nursing), consisting mainly of maternity cases, as there was no obstetrical department in the hospital.

Increasing demand for hospital care required additions be made to the building in 1906 and again in 1915. An obstetrical department was opened for use of patients in August, 1922; bringing the bed capacity to one hundred and four, plus twenty-four bassinets.

The “Old” Aberdeen had large wards accommodating up to twenty-four beds, eight semi-private rooms, seven private room, small utility rooms and diet kitchen, two elevators operated manually with rope pulleys, one operating room, one small case room on the third floor (the maternity patients were on the second floor), and X-Ray and Out-Patient Department.

In 1944, the third and final addition to the building was completed when a Pavilion for Obstetrical and Surgical patients was opened. Total bed complement at this date was one hundred and forty-four beds plus thirty-five bassinets. A Central Supply Room was established in the room formerly used for the Case Room. (There were no dumb waiters or telephone services.)

Simultaneously with the opening of the Hospital in 1897, a Training School for nurses was established under the direction of Miss Jessie Muir Sheraton, a graduate of Saint John General Hospital, Saint John, New Brunswick. Miss Sheraton was also the superintendent of the hospital.

Miss Sheraton, a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, was a gifted musician. When her family became financially distressed, she would not commercialize her music, but entered the nursing profession. After graduation, she became the first Director of the Training School for Nurses in 1890 at the Prince Edward Island Hospital in Charlottetown, which has been opened in 1883. Students of Miss Sheraton have described her as being very forceful, commanding and a great disciplinarian.

The following is an extract from Miss Sheraton’s report dated January 1, 1898:

“At present there are four pupils in the training school. There have been forty applications for entrance: of these a number are still on the list, and a number, either from desire to enter at once or else from non-suitability, have been crossed off. The first course of lectures by the Medical and Surgical staff is under way.”

Also extracted from a hospital trustees report dated 1897 is the following description of the first nursing program.

The Trustees of Aberdeen Hospital have established a course of training for women desirous of becoming professional nurses.

The course of training shall extend over two full years and shall include instruction from textbooks and manuals of nursing, daily drill in the wards, operating room and other departments of the hospital by the Superintendent and lectures and demonstrations by the Medical and Surgical Staff.

Those wishing for this course of training must apply either personally or in their own handwriting to the Superintendent.

Candidates will be received at any time as vacancies occur in the school and as accommodation in the Hospital permits.

Applicants, as a rule, should be between the ages of twenty-one and thirty years. They must have received at least a good common school education, though women of higher education are preferred, and must present certificate of good moral character and health.

At the end of two month probation, if considered satisfactory, the candidate may enter upon the regular course of training, and shall adopt the hospital uniform and sign an agreement to complete the full course of two years and to conform to all the rules and requirements of the school and hospital. The hospital uniform was a dark blue dress covered with a white apron.

Pupils may be dismissed at any time for inefficiency, misconduct, unsatisfactory record, or any other reason which may be deemed sufficient.

Pupils completing a full course satisfactorily shall receive a diploma signed by the proper authorities.

No payment will be made to nurses during the two months on probation. After acceptance they will be paid $5.00 per month to cover necessary expenditure, it being understood that their training is a full equivalent for their services.

The pupil nurses are on duty twelve hours each day and have one afternoon each week to themselves, also a yearly vacation of two weeks.

The pupils serve as assistant nurses in the Hospital. When circumstances permit the services of nurses may be had for private nursing. When so employed the minimum charge will be one dollar per day and board, payment to be made to the superintendent.

The course of lectures to be delivered during 1897 by the Medical and Surgical Staff is as follows:

General and Regional Anatomy                  8 lectures

Physiology                                                   6 lectures

Medical Nursing                                          6 lectures

Surgical Nursing                                          8 lectures

Eye, nose and throat                                   5 lectures

The first nursing program extended over two years (1897 – 1899).

In 1898 it was extended to three years.

As there was no specific residence, the nurses lived mainly outside the hospital, or on the third floor of the hospital in small rooms under the eaves. A bell that has been used for many years to awaken nurses in the morning could be found in the “Archives” in the former Nurses’ Residence, but relocated to the basement level, Aberdeen Hospital before the Nurses’ Residence was demolished.

Miss Sheraton retired in 1919. Her position was filled by Miss Nina Grant, who graduated in 1917 from the Aberdeen Hospital, School of Nursing and retained the post until 1931. Following her retirement as superintendent, Miss Grant was business administrator until the nineteen forties. (Room 311 in the present hospital has been furnished in Miss Grant’s memory by the Alumnae Association of the School of Nursing.)

The Nurses’ Home, adjacent to the hospital, was opened in 1920 and had accommodation for twenty-seven nurses. The home, built of brick, was nicely furnished and decorated. Students occupied the second and third floors. The first floor was reserved for the Superintendent and Supervisors. The classroom, where all the teaching was done, was located in the basement. (The Nurses’ Home is currently the business site of Quality Cleaners.)

In 1941, due to overcrowding of the Nurses’ Home, the “MacNeil” house, 101 Stellarton Road, was purchased and provided accommodations for twenty-three nurses. Students living in this beautiful old home were either on night duty or in their senior year.

Throughout the years, the students received quality instruction and preparation for nursing, and Aberdeen graduates fill many positions requiring a high degree of responsibility. It is of interest to note that the total number of registered nurses on the staff (1944-1947) would seldom exceed twelve, including the night supervisors.

Students’ hours of duty were from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or vice versa. On day duty, one would have 3 hours off daily, but would often attend class during this time; on night duty, one would receive two hours off daily, but would relieve or be relieved, by another student. On day duty one received one afternoon off a week, five hours on Sundays and holidays. On night duty after 1945, one received one night off a week.

Classes were admitted in February and September. During the probationary period, which covered from four to six months, the courses were given by instructors (seldom more than two). The remainder of classes was given by physicians, who also set and marked the examinations. If a student succeeded in “getting her cap” at the conclusion of her probationary period, it was taken for granted she would pass all further examinations – including Registered Nurses’ Examinations. The practice of admitting two classes of students each year continued until 1958.

Over the years of service to the community, the hospital building was kept in repair, new equipment was added, renovations were continuously being carried out but still the physical facilities were inadequate to meet the demands for the care of the sick and injured.

In 1950, the Aberdeen Hospital Commission was incorporated and plans were laid for the erection of a new hospital. It was on March 9th, 1955, that the Honourable Harold Connolly, Minister of Public Health and Welfare, Province of Nova Scotia, officially opened the new Aberdeen Hospital. There was a capacity for two hundred and twenty patients, plus thirty-nine bassinettes in the nurseries.

In 1959, the new Nurses’ Residence was completed, providing accommodation for 165 nurses. The building of the new residence was made possible by the generous bequests made in the wills of the late Caroline E. Carmichael and Anna M. Carmichael, daughters of Mr. James W. Carmichael, famous ship builder, member of parliament and a Senator. It is of interest to note that Lady Aberdeen was a house guest in the Carmichael home in 1897, when the name of our hospital was chosen.

Two other members of this family are also remembered for their significant gifts to our school and hospital. The Hannah Matheson Fund has been established to help support the school and its students; Miss Matheson was the granddaughter of Mr. James W. Carmichael. The Sinclair Gold Medal was given at graduation to the student with the highest aggregate. Mr. Donald Sinclair was the grandson of Mr. James W. Carmichael. Mr. Donald Carmichael Sinclair and his wife, Norma MacKay Sinclair, were keenly interested in the Aberdeen Hospital and its School of Nursing. As a tangible symbol of their loyalty and support, this coveted award was created and had been presented commencing in 1923 until the School of Nursing closed in 1995.

The following is taken from a plaque erected April 24th, 1963, by the Aberdeen Hospital Commission in the main entrance of the hospital: “In the memory of Donald C. Sinclair, QC. Lawyer, Soldier, Public Servant, Humanitarian, but above all a friend of the Aberdeen Hospital. He gave unstintingly of his time and talents that the hospital might keep pace with modern advances in buildings and that the school of nursing might retain a high place among the educational institutions of the province”.

The hospital and its school have been the recipients of many wonderful gifts, both monetary and furnishings, over the years, denoting the gratitude many citizens feel for this institution.

The new hospital had been planned so that new additions could be made as the need arose. In 1967-68, the west wing was extended on the fourth and fifth floors, and a modern intensive care unit was installed on the second floor. The north and south wings of the fifth floor were also extended, providing better facilities for the care of children and patients with eye problems. The complement then stood at two hundred fifty-six beds and thirty-nine bassinets.

A new building was constructed between the Nurses’ Residence and the Hospital, and was officially opened in 1969. This addition permits people to receive treatment on a daily basis, providing service to those with heart conditions, diabetes mellitus, and other metabolic disorders. A laboratory, fully equipped with modern devices and staffed by competent technicians and pathologists, was improved.

Phase 1 of a renovation and construction project was undertaken in 1980, and the official opening took place on July 20th, 1983. Officiating at the formal opening was Mr. D.R. Hayman, Chairman, Board of Commissioners of Aberdeen Hospital; The Honourable Gerald Sheehy, DVM, Minister of Health for Nova Scotia, who performed the ribbon cutting ceremony; the Honourable Jack MacIsaac, Minister of Labour Land Manpower and MLA for Pictou Centre, who gave a brief address in recognition of the occasion.

Newly constructed and renovated departments included radiology, emergency out-patient, day care surgery, dietary, surgical suite, pharmacy, administration and admitting, physiotherapy and doctors’ accommodations.

The main emphasis of this project was the upgrading of the patient accommodation areas, labor and delivery suites, intensive care, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and departmental areas such physiotherapy, respiratory therapy, laboratory and ECG. Major mechanical/electrical upgrades i.e. heating, ventilation and air conditioning were also included.

Stage one was completed in December 1994, stage two in the fall of 1995 and stage three in the spring of 1997. The official opening took place in May 1997.

The main feature of stage two was the renovation of the West Tower – mostly patient units, day surgery, and chemotherapy unit.

Stage three involved the North Tower and included renovation to the laboratory, ECG, and stress testing area, post-partum patient care accommodation, and medical/surgical suites.

Successors to Miss Sheraton and Miss Grant, in administration of the hospital are:

1931-1940   - Miss Marion Patterson Boa (Montreal General Hospital)

1940-1944   - Miss Mary I. Crossman-Mooney (Saint John General Hospital)

1944-1947   - Miss Elizabeth A. Richardson-Jeffrey (Hale Hospital)

1947-1955   - Miss Mary J. Ross (Aberdeen Hospital)

1955-1973   - Dr Hugh MacKay

1973-1987   - Mr. John MacCallum

1987-1993   - Mr. Ken Rayment

1993-1994   -Mr. Richard Criddle (Interim Administrator)

1994-           - Mr. Patrick Flinn

The school of nursing was a vital department in the Aberdeen Hospital and made continuous progress in developing its program so that the graduates were prepared to nurse in an ever changing world.

One of the significant changes was the establishment of a two year program in 1971. The final class of students graduating from the three year program was 1972.

The new program, implemented on a provincial basis, generated a great deal of study and interest. A curriculum was developed by the school with organized theory, and clinical application in order to maximize the value of learning experiences.

Ongoing assessment of the curriculum led to revisions within the philosophy and organizational framework. The school consistently met provincial standards in surveys conducted every five years by the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia.

As of August 1995, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven nurses graduated from the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing.

Directors of the School of Nursing have included:

1938 - Miss Winnifred Cook (Montreal General Hospital)

         - Mrs. Laverne MacEachern (Massachusetts General Hospital)

         - Miss Helen Wilson (Winnipeg General Hospital)

1943 - Miss Jessie MacCann (Children’s Hospital, Halifax)

1944 - Mrs. Laverne MacEachern (Massachusetts General Hospital)

1946 - Miss Rhoda E. MacDonald (Glace Bay general Hospital)

1951 - Miss Ada I. MacNeil (Aberdeen Hospital)

1955 - Miss Mary J. Ross (Aberdeen Hospital)

1970 - Mrs. Faye Hoare (Aberdeen Hospital)

1994 - Mrs. Evelyn Burke (Aberdeen Hospital)

Associate Directors of Nursing Education:

1956 - Miss Margaret M. Matheson (Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal)

1965 - Mrs. Faye Hoare (Aberdeen Hospital)

1967 - Mrs. Brant Singh (University of New Delhi, India)

1970 - Mrs. Evelyn Burke (Aberdeen Hospital)

With each decade the hospital and school experienced change. As we drew closer to the conclusion of the twentieth century the process of change became increasingly rapid and complex; however, progress with the times was maintained. The hospital as a regional facility offered a wide range of general and specialized services to the public it served. The school continued to be a respected post-secondary educational instruction for students from all areas of the province, approximately 30-40% of any incoming class of students were from the Pictou County area.

At the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing, the late Dr. Hugh F. Mackay, Executive Director of the hospital, wrote in the anniversary booklet “… A nurse that will not keep abreast of the current techniques and advances has little place in my concept of the future. Nursing has made great strides in the past generation but still greater strides will be demanded over the next twenty years.”

The twenty years of which Dr. MacKay made reference have passed, and in the interim, the school has graduated many nurses who are assuming positions of great importance and responsibility.  It is heart-warming to know that the Aberdeen Hospital School of the Nursing still placed a strong emphasis upon the significance of bedside nursing. This philosophy of nursing will prohibit the nurse from ever losing sight of the patient, no matter what field or what position in nursing is assumed.

ORIGINAL BOARD 1897

Rev. James Carruthers, Chairman              Dr. Charles j. Miller

Dr. E. Kennedy, Secretary                           Mr. Simon A. Fraser

Mr. W.A. MacIntosh, Treasurer                 Mr. Thomas Cantley

Mr. J.M. Carmichael

ORIGINAL MEDICAL STAFF

Dr. E. Kennedy                                             Dr. J.P. Smith

Dr. C.J. Miller                                              Dr. John MacKay

Dr. H.H. MacKay                                         Dr. William Mitchell

A person is a unique biopsychosocial being who functions holistically in response to life’s experiences. People are capable of making decisions that will affect the way in which they live and gain satisfaction from life, and are inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

A person is a member of society. Society is made up of people with various chosen values and socio-economic backgrounds. Society creates cultures to provide support and association for its members. People fulfill their needs through membership in society.

Nursing exists in response to the health needs of society and has its roots in providing a unique client-centered service to individuals in a caring-helping relationship.

Nursing provides humanistic and comprehensive care. Nursing uses a systemic problem solving approach to diagnose and treat human responses and to collaborate with other health professionals in achieving the goals of health care. The overall goal of nursing is to promote, maintain, and restore health or facilitate a peaceful death.

Nurses value health and regard it as a dynamic state influenced by the person’s belief system and internal and external environment. Health is closely related to the client’s ability to maintain an optimal level of integrated functioning in those functional areas related to everyday living.

Nursing education is an organized educational process whereby learners are regarded as adults and “undertake systematic and sustained learning activities for the purpose of bringing about changes in knowledge, attitudes, values, or skills.” (Stanage, 1987, p. 32) The educational process allows the active participation of the learner, provides decision-making experiences and nurtures the attitude of the lifelong necessity for learning. Educators act to facilitate the learning process by providing the conditions for learning to take place and nurturing a sense of commitment to professional knowledge and practice.

SINCLAIR MEDAL AND HIGHEST AGGREGATE - Sinclair Medal donated by the estate of the late D.C. Sinclair (first presented in 1923)

HIGHEST AGGREGATE - Donated by the Aberdeen Hospital Commission

SECOND HIGHEST AGGREGATE - Donated by the Aberdeen Hospital Commission

THIRD HIGHEST AGGREGATE - Donated by Stellarton Ladies Auxiliary to Aberdeen Hospital

MARY JANE ROSS GENERAL PROFICIENCY PRIZE - Donated by Alumnae Association, Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing

MARGARET MATHESON BEDSIDE NURSING PRIZE - Donated by Pictou Chapter Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia

MEDICAL NURSING PRIZE AND SURGICAL NURSING PRIZE - Donated by Medical Staff, Aberdeen Hospital

PROFICIENCY IN MATERNITY NURSING AND A BURSARY FOR POST GRADUATION EDUCATION IN MATERNITY NURSING - Donated by Margaret E. MacKay, Memorial Bursary Trust

AWARDS FOR PROFICIENCY IN EMERGENCY NURSING, PROFICIENCY IN PEDIATRIC NURSING, AND FIRST PRIZE IN OBSTETRICAL NURSING - Donated by the New Glasgow Ladies Auxiliary, Aberdeen Hospital

FIRST PRIZE PEDIATRIC NURSING - Donated by Alice (Hamblen) MacLellan Scholarship Fund

AWARD FOR MENTAL HEALTH NURSING - Donated by Wallace B. MacKenzie, in memory of Mr. & Mrs. John T. MacKenzie and Margaret Jane MacKenzie

SNANS AWARD – Donated by the Student Nurses Association of Nova Scotia

(the Blue Band Tea)

HIGHEST AGGREGATE AND SECOND HIGHEST AGGREGATE – Hannah Matheson Scholarship Fund

THIRD HIGHEST AGGREGATE – Class of 1981 Scholarship Fund

BEDSIDE NURSING AWARD – Florence M. Wilson Scholarship Fund

BEDSIDE NURSING AWARD – Donated by Alfred MacLean and Doris MacDonald in memory of their parents Howard and Bertha MacLean

PROFICENCY AWARD – Donated by the family of Nina Ervin in her memory 

On this the 100th year since the formation of the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing and the 57th year since the origin of the Alumnae it is with pleasure that the Association print the complete 100th Anniversary booklet (found in another document One Hundredth Anniversary). This is the fourth such issue, one being printed in 1957, 1967, 1987 and 1997. This is the first issue to contain information on graduates from additional educational programs – Radiology and Laboratory Technology – of the Aberdeen Hospital. In 1996 our By-Laws were revised to include these graduates.

To celebrate this 100th year landmark a reunion of all Graduates will be held in the New Glasgow area on September 12, 13, 14th, 1997. We are anticipating an exceptional response of Alumnae members and look forward to meeting with old friend, reminiscing about our student days, being updated on the years since then, and also on our current situations.

It is especially important that we schedule regular gatherings now that the School of Nursing and the other educational programs have been brought to closure:

         School of Nursing                            1897 – 1995

         School of Radiology                        1929 - 1966

         School of Laboratory Technology   1960 – 1972

Over the past 100 years we have faced phenomenal change, especially in the past decade when our system of health care has been drastically altered and the outcomes have affected the very core of our system. Never in the history of health care has it been more important to uphold our traditional “Aberdeen Graduate Reputation” and continue to be dedicated to the care of those people entrusted to us.

May we never forget the “people” are, and will always remain, the very basis of our health care system...Faye Hoare RN Class of 1957