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Nova Scotia Hospital School
of Nursing Documents Only
The School's Beginnings The DeWolfe Medal and Additional Honors
In the 1890’s, hospital administrators were taking notice of the significance of graduate nurses in psychiatric hospitals, so much so that the extra attention of nurses and their ability to interest patients in other types of work was credited with the end of mechanical restraints as a means of controlling violent and destructive patients. Around the same time, in 1892, while visiting with hospitals in Ontario, the Superintendent of the Nova Scotia Hospital, Dr. George Sinclair, noticed several important similarities about hospital staff in the province. He found that the hospitals in Ontario had attendants of both sexes; that these attendants wore uniforms when on duty; and, that many of these hospitals had schools of nursing. In an effort to recreate the image of the Nova Scotia Hospital, and to create a trained uniformed corps of nurses as he had seen in Ontario, a nurses’ training school was established at the Nova Scotia Hospital in 1893. The Report of the Training School for Nurses, 1893-1894 The Report of the Training School for Nurses, 1894-1895 The Report of the Training School for Nurses, 1897-1898 Once the decision
had been made to establish a school of nursing at the Nova Scotia
Hospital, information about the program was circulated and applicants were
invited to apply for this course. Those wishing to enter into the program
had to apply to the superintendent of the Hospital. The most desirable age
for candidates was from 21-25 years of age. They were required to be in
sound health and along with their application, had to submit a certificate
from some responsible person testifying to their good health and moral
character. Successful applicants were given one months probation, at the
end of which they would, if accepted, sign an agreement to complete the
prescribed course of two years.
The nurses in training resided in the Hospital and served as assistant nurses on its wards. In the case of misconduct or inefficiency, the students were liable to dismissal at any period of the course. Instruction included general care of the sick, the managing of helpless patients in bed, the changing of bed and body linen; as well as making beds; giving baths, keeping patients warm or cool, preventing and dressing bed sores, bandaging, applying fomentation, poultices, and minor dressings; preparation and serving of food, feeding of helpless patients and those who refuse food, the administration of enemas and the use of a catheter; attendance upon patients requiring diversion and companionship; the observation of mental symptoms, delusions, hallucinations, delirium, stupor, etc.; and the care of excited, violent and suicidal patients. Analysis of a Student Nurse, 1963 Student Poem about Night Duty, 1961 Nurses in training were given instruction in the best practical methods for supplying fresh air, warming and ventilating sick rooms in a proper manner, and were taught to take proper care of rooms and wards. They were also instructed in keeping all utensils perfectly clean and disinfected, in observing the sick accurately in regard to the state of secretions, pulse, breathing, skin, temperature, sleep, appetite, effects of diets, stimulants, and medications, and in the managing of convalescents. The Nova Scotia
Hospital School of Nursing included a term in the Infirmary ward under the
charge of a competent hospital nurse and lectures were given at appointed
periods by the asylum staff. Examinations, chiefly on practice points,
took place periodically. Pupils were paid at the rate of $10.00 per month
during the first 12 months and $12.50 during the remainder of the course.
At the end of their training, if a satisfactory exam was passed and the
nurse decided to remain in the service of the hospital, an advance was
given to the student. The pupils were also entitled to uniforms, board and
washing. They were required to wear at all times, the hospital uniform
dress when on duty in the wards. Upon completion of the course, nurses who
were successful in the examinations would receive a diploma certifying to
their period of training.
Frances Harper;
(Nova Scotia Hospital Nursing
Student Listen to Frank Graham; (Nova Scotia Hospital Nursing Student from 1930-1933) talk about his experiences as a male nursing student in the 1930's in Nova Scotia. (21:04 minutes) The initial program was only two years, and the first two people to enroll in the School of Nursing had been the two head attendants on the female side. In 1895, these first graduates of the hospital had been appointed to permanent positions with the Nova Scotia Hospital and were placed on the female wards. One of the nurses, assisted by a graduate Head Nurse in the performance of her duties, became the supervisor of days and the other graduate nurse became the night supervisor. In 1895 five students had enrolled in the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing Program and by 1896, nine students were enrolled. By 1900, there was a Graduate Nurse in charge of each of the female wards. Meanwhile, it would be some time before any male students would enroll into the program. The first male student in the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing program enrolled in 1908-1909. While the male wards continued to be staffed by male attendants, it was not until 1911-1912 that the St. John’s Ambulance course was offered, for the first time, for male staff. By start of the Second World War in 1939, a large number of male nursing students and male nurses resigned for naval, air and military duty. By 1941-1942, there was an acute shortage of graduate male nurses so four additional attendants were hired at the hospital. The number of class hours was also reported as having doubled, and there was an increase in the number of subjects taught during the program. For this year, female nursing students took 2 months of training in the men’s wards. Student Nurses Association of Nova Scotia (S.N.A.N.S.) Year Report, 1962 A Glance at the Past- (Students Letter), 1964 Valedictory Address by Lorna Khan (Ripley) to Graduating Class, 1969 In the year 1940-41, one less female student was admitted in order to employ a clothing supervisor, and arrangements were made at the Victoria General Hospital for student nurses to have two extra weeks in operating room training and experience. In 1951-1952, several nurses were sent away for additional training to Dalhousie University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Toronto.
A plea for affiliation with general hospitals was instituted in 1920, and by 1921, through the superintendent’s efforts to gain affiliation with the Victoria General Hospital and the Grace Maternity Hospital, the nursing program was extended to 3 years. This allowed for a wider opportunity for students in their experiences. During their third year, nursing students would be assigned to the Victoria General for six months and to the Grace Maternity for three months, however, only female students were allowed to participate in the affiliation with the Grace Maternity Hospital. In 1947, an affiliation for female nurses was started with the Halifax Children’s Hospital. The registration requirement at the time in other provinces stated that graduates of psychiatric hospital nursing schools must have at least one year’s affiliation. It was hoped that male nurses might have the same advantage, although it would not be until 1948, that affiliation for male students increased to nine months at the Victoria General Hospital and three months at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium in Kentville in order to equal the chances for registration. Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations- Grace Maternity Hospital- Obstetrics, 1963 Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations-Nova Scotia Sanatorium- Tuberculosis, 1963 Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations- Victoria General Hospital- Operating Room, 1968
Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations- Children's Hospital- Pediatrics, 1961 Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations- Halifax Infirmary- Obstetrics, 1961 Nova Scotia Hospital Affiliations- Victoria General Hospital- Medicine and Surgery, 1968 By 1966, three hundred and thirty seven students had completed the affiliation and the affiliation course was cut down to eight weeks, as a pilot project. In 1967, Mount Saint Vincent University nursing school students began an eight-week affiliation accompanied by their own instructors, and three hundred and thirty students completed this affiliation in this year. In 1968, four hundred and nineteen students completed their affiliation.
By 1953-1954, the nursing staff was plagued by a rapid turnover, so in order to offset the lack of trained personnel, a proposition was made to initiate a post-graduate course for Registered Nurses, and in September 1954, a post-graduate course for psychiatric nurses was started. A short-term training course for nursing attendants was also initiated at this time.
In 1954-1955, the Nurses Alumnae sponsored a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Nova Scotia Hospital training school. This three-day event coincided with graduation in June 1954. By this point in time, there were 39 graduate nurses on ward staff at the Nova Scotia Hospital, 30 students in the school, and 10 post-graduate students. By 1955-1956, there were 35 graduate nurses on staff, and 15 students were enrolled in the Registered Nurse Post Graduate program, and 12 had already completed the requirements. Due to a lack of accommodation, many students were unable to remain on staff and there were very little completions. By 1959 there were four on-going fulltime programs offered by the Nova Scotia Hospital in psychiatric nursing: 1. Basic three year nursing program. 2. Three-month training course for affiliates. 3. Post Graduate course (which was directly affiliated with the Supervisor of Special Services). 4. Course for certified nursing assistants. Nova Scotia Hospital Courses and Programs, [before 1970] In 1967, word was received that the school was going to be phased out as a result of the implementation in Nova Scotia of the two-year program for Registered Nurses. The last class to graduate was in 1970, with 9 graduating students.
The DeWolfe Medal and Additional Honors
In 1900, the
DeWolfe Medal first originated and continued until the school closed
down. This award was created through the request of the late Mrs. James
DeWolfe, and was an award presented to the student who was considered by
the resident medical officers to be the best qualified Nurse. In later
years, the wording of this award would be changed, so that the student who
received the award would be the one with the highest overall average in
performance and theory during the three year period. The first male
student to win the DeWolfe Medal was in 1922-1923.
Nova Scotia Hospital Nurse's Pledge, 1961 Florence Nightingale Pledge, 1961
Student Definitions of Nursing, 1964
The student nurses at the Nova Scotia Hospital School of Nursing were praised many times throughout the existence of the program. One time in particular was in 1917-1918, when during the Halifax Explosion, there was considerable damage to buildings. Nearly all of the windows and doors in the women’s ward were blown in. Many patients and nurses had cuts and injuries, and some terror stricken patients jumped from the now open windows. If not for the heroic efforts of nurses and attendants, many patients would have escaped.
Up until 1893, attendants and nurses in hospitals dined at the same time and place as the patients. It was only after January 1893, that attendants and nurses dined at separate hours and separate places from the patients. The Superintendent of the Nova Scotia Hospital, in his 1894-1895 report to the Hospital Board, provides the following justification for the shift in practice; “When it is remembered that our nurses live, move and have their being, day and night, in the same ward with the patients, and that their rest is frequently disturbed by noise at night, I think we should not begrudge some small concessions to their personal comfort, I am convinced that as a result of studying more than has been done in these matters, we get a more willing and satisfactory service and that this the patients themselves are the real gainers.”
This reasoning was extended in 1903-1904, when in order to expand that bed state, it was recommended that cottages be erected for nurses and attendants to live in. At the time, many nurses and attendants were sleeping on the wards with their patients and this meant that it was not feasible for staff to stay out late because it would disturb the patients when they came home to go to bed. Accommodation and residence housing would prove to be a challenge as student numbers and affiliations with other schools increased.
Years later, in 1954, since there was no accommodation in the nursing residences, other hospitals or nursing schools wishing to do affiliations at the Nova Scotia Hospital were responsible for making housing arrangements for their students and several hospitals had to be refused because of the shortage of residence beds for students. It was not until May of 1964 that the new residence was constructed and officially opened. Residence Floor Plans, [before 1970]
The Nova Scotia Hospital had significantly higher salaries for students than general hospitals. In addition to maintenance and laundry, students were granted an allowance of $20/ month for the first six months; $22 for the next six months (of the first year). In their second year, students received $28 for the first six months, and $30 for the last six months of the second year. Students then received $35 for the rest of the program. This allowance was considered a scholarship, which made it possible for women of limited means to prepare for a nursing career. These figures are listed in the 1934- 1935 annual report. Pupil nurses worked from 12-13 hours a day and had to tolerate many unpleasant experiences, which were used to explain the low number of applications. By 1929-1930, pupil nurses were given ½ day off duty each week; four hours on Sunday and holidays, 2 weeks vacation each year and were on night duty for three months at a time.
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