The First Seventy Years: Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Bryan Memorial Hospital, 1926-1996
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 409 951 JC 970 415 AUTHOR Vontz, Marilyn J. TITLE The First Seventy Years: Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Bryan Memorial Hospital, 1926-1996. A Seventieth Anniversary Publication. INSTITUTION Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Lincoln, NE. PUB DATE 97 NOTE 263p PUB TYPE Historical Materials (060) Reports Descriptive (141) Tests /Questionnaires (160) EDRS PRICE IMF01/PC11 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Allied Health Personnel; Community Colleges; Educational Facilities; Educational Finance; *Educational History; *Enrollment; Enrollment Influences; *Nurses; *Nursing Education; *Organizational Development; School Expansion; *Teaching Hospitals; Two Year Colleges IDENTIFIERS *Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing NE ABSTRACT Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (BMHSN) and Bryan Memorial Hospital, in Nebraska, this monograph reviews the development and achievements of the school and hospital. Chapter 1 (1900-1919) provides a history of nursing in the early 20th century, while chapter 2(1920-1929) describes the establishment of the hospital in 1920 and BMHSN in 1926. Chapter 3(1930-1939) examines the effects of the Great Depression on nursing education in the country, the nursing school, and the hospital, while chapter 4 (1940-1949) discusses the impact of World War II on nursing, focusing on the demands to join the military nursing service and the resulting shortage of nurses. Chapter 5 (1950-1965) highlights developments during the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on the growth experienced by the hospital and school and the development of the associate degree in nursing through the community college. Chapter 6 (1966-1980) reviews the continued expansion of the school in the 1970's and national changes in health care, including the expansion and reorganization of the health care industry. Finally, chapter 7 (1981-1996) discusses the current situation of BMHSN and the impact of legislation governing the hospitalization of Medicare patients, the acute nursing shortage, alternative health insurance plans, and health care reform. Contains 333 references. Data on BMHSN enrollment and finances are included for each chapter. Appendixes provide data on nursing program enrollment in 1911; nursing schools in Nebraska; BMHSN application forms, graduates from 1929-96, and curriculum; and a graduate questionnaire. (TGI) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing 1 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION and "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS CENTER (ERIC) MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY (1, This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Bryan Memonal Hospital M. J. Vontz ] Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. ' Points of view or opinions stated in this 1926-1996 document do not necessarily represent TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. official OERI position or policy. INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." A Seventieth Anniersa ry Publication r- arHyn J. Vontz, Ph R.N. AVAILMLE THE FIRST SEVENTY YEARS BRYAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING and BRYAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 1926 - 1996 A SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION Marilyn J. Vontz, Ph.D., R.N. Instructor, Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Lincoln, Nebraska 3 The First Seventy Years Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Bryan Memorial Hospital 1926-1996 Copyright © 1997 Marilyn Vontz, PhD, RN All rights reserved. No part of thisbook may be reproduced in any form, except for theinclusion of brief quotations in a reviewor article, without written permission from the author or publisher. Published by: Bryan Memorial HospitalAlumni Association 5000 Sumner Street Lincoln, NE 68506 (402) 483-3801 Printed in the USA by MORRIS PURUSHINO 3212 East Highway 30Kearney, NE 688471-800-650-7888 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Dedication iv Preface v Chapter One (19001919): Nursing in the Early Twentieth Century 1 Chapter Two (1920 - 1929): A Legend Begins -- A School is Born! 15 Chapter Three (1930 - 1939): The Effects of the Great Depression 38 Chapter Four (1940 - 1949): The Impact of World War II 66 Chapter Five (1950 - 1965): Bryan Flourishes 101 Chapter Six (1966 - 1980): Bryan -- A Community Landmark 143 Chapter Seven (1981 - 1996): The Legacy Continues 170 References 202 Appendices 212 iii 5 DEDICATION This history is dedicated to all Bryan studentswho have studied nursing in the past, to those who are currently enrolled, and to those whowill study nursing at Bryan in the future; to the faculty who have helped to shape theprofessionalism of our nurses; and, most importantly,to our dedicated and distinguished alumni. 6 iv PREFACE A school of nursing which has been in operation for seventy years deserves to be recognized for its past achievements and its ability to withstand numerous changes over a long period of time.It is apropos to acknowledge the School's seventieth anniversary with a written history to commemorate the occasion. It is appropriate to write a history which may be used as a reference for past events, so that past mistakes are not repeated. History also assists in one's understanding of present situations and allows for speculation and reflection. It can throw light on the origins of persistent issues and conflicts, thereby providing a basis for analysis that can potentially lead to resolution.History opens the door to storehouses of information that can be used to assist with the development of reasoned conclusions about specific phenomena. Critical thinking cannot help but be fostered and strengthened by the study of history. Not only are facts about the past sought, but one must think about those facts, discover relationships, draw inferences, and even call on the imagination to interpolate certain events. Facts themselves are bare skeletons and a compilation of them alone is a fruitless exercise without discovering what the facts mean (Donohue, 1991). History helps to show the progression of nursing from a technical-based profession to a scientific, research-based profession.It can be used for future research by helping to verify trends of what has gone on before and allowing a comparison of what has and is currently happening in nursing locally to nursing in the nation and in the world. Nursing research has the potential to provide a foundation for directing the future movement of the nursing profession. Everything and everyone is in some way related to the past, which subsequently has an influence on the future. By being aware of the past, professional changes can be more wisely determined in the future. Hopefully, this history of Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing will stimulate further reading of nursing history and allow readers to discover for themselves the fascinating, rich pattern of nursing history and bring to it their own interpretations and understanding. Donohue (1991) wrote: "What we are is, in part, only of our own making, the greater part has come down to us from the past. What we know and what we think is not a new fountain gushing fresh from the barren rocks of the unknown at the stroke of our own intellect.It is a stream which flows by us and through us fed by the far off rivulets of long ago. As what we think and say today will mingle with and shape the thoughts of men in the years to come, so, in the opinions and views which we are proud to hold today, we may, by looking back, trace the influence of those who have gone before." My sincere gratitude to the staff of Bryan Memorial Hospital Public Relations; De Etta Wilhelm, Bryan Fund Development; and Barb Sommer, Curator of the Fairview Museum, for furnishing valuable historical information. Special thanks to Phylis Hollamon, Administrative Director; to Mary Scully, Coordinator of Student Services; and to Verla Youngquist, Class of 1968, Student Recruiter at Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing for their assistance in helping locate information, which allowed me to piece together the events that influenced the School's progression into the prestigious institution it is today. A big thanks to Margaret Pavelka, Class of 1946 and former Director of the School of Nursing, who was able to clarify many of my questions and graciously provided me with important information. My heartfelt appreciation to Margaret Pavelka and Marjorie Bartels, Class of 1946, who graciously assisted in proofing the text and to Lisa Vonfeldt for editing and preparing the manuscript for publication. 7 CHAPTER ONE Nursing in the Early Twentieth Century 1900 - 1919 The history of nursing is a great epic involving trials and triumphs, romance, and adventure. Most importantly, it is the story of an occupational group whose status has always been affected by the prevalent standards of humanity. Nursing has gone through many stages and has been an integral part of societal movements. Nursing has been involved in the existing culture--shaped by it and yet helping to develop it. The great turning points in world progress have also been important turning points in nursing (Dock & Stewart, 19251. The period from the turn of the century until the beginning of World War I in 1917 was a progressive era--a time of political, economic, and social reform in the cities, the states, and the nation.It