Sisters of Mercy: the Alw King Nun's Siouxland Journey and Experiences in Nursing (1890-1965) Diane L
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South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange Theses and Dissertations 2015 Sisters of Mercy: The alW king Nun's Siouxland Journey and Experiences in Nursing (1890-1965) Diane L. Smith South Dakota State University Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd Part of the Nursing Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Diane L., "Sisters of Mercy: The alW king Nun's Siouxland Journey and Experiences in Nursing (1890-1965)" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1767. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1767 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SISTERS OF MERCY: THE WALKING NUNS’ SIOUXLAND JOURNEY AND EXPERIENCES IN NURSING (1890-1965) BY DIANE L. SMITH A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Major in Nursing South Dakota State University 2015 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge the assistance from this researcher’s South Dakota State University Dissertation Advisor, Kay Foland, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, CNP, and committee members Margaret Hegge, RN, MS, EdD, Mary Isaacson, RN, PhD, and Graduate Faculty Representative, David E. Davis, PhD. A sincere thank you is extended for your support and guidance in this research. To nurse scholars in nursing research, Therese C. Meehan, RGN, PhD, Mary P. Tarbox, RN, EdD, Barbra Mann Wall, PhD, RN, FAAN, Julie Weldon, RN, MSN, thank you for your willingness to mentor. I would like to also acknowledge the assistance and support from the following organizations: the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Mercy Heritage Center, Belmont, North Carolina; the Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community Archives, Omaha, Nebraska; March of Dimes, White Plaines, New York, and in Sioux City, Iowa: Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City, Trinity Heights’ St. Joseph Center/Museum, the Sioux City Research Center, the Sioux City Public Library, and the Sioux City Journal. Without your preservation of historical archives, history would not be written. Thank you. To all the members of my family, especially to my husband, Dennis, goes an expression of thanks and love for all their support. I wish to express my gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy. A sincere thank you to those from Siouxland who graciously shared their story: Sister Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM; Sister LuAnn Hannasch, RSM; Sister Anne M. Healy, RSM; Sister Mary Corita Heid, RSM; Sister Mary Gabrielle Hoefer, RSM; Jane Houston; Sister Patrice Klein, RSM; Sister Andrea Sieloff, RSM; Sister Maurita Soukup, RSM; and Sister Therese Villerot, RSM. This research is a tribute to honor the Religious Sisters of Mercy Order for their spiritual exemplar in nursing. iv CONTENTS Page ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………….. vii LIST OF FIGURES..……………………………………………………..…. xiii ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………. xvi Chapter 1: Introduction……..……………………….……………………… 1 Purpose of Study………...…………………………………….……… 3 Research Questions……..…………………………………….………. 3 Thesis…………..………...…………………………………….……… 4 Significance of Walking Nuns in Siouxland……………………….….. 5 Definitions……………………………………………………….…….. 6 Chapter 2: Literature Review and Model………………………..…………. 10 Introduction……………….………………………………….……….. 10 Background……………..…………………………………….……….. 10 Catherine McAuley………………………………………………… 10 Sisters of Mercy……………………………………………………. 14 Habit……………………………………………………………….. 15 Charism……………………………………………………………. 17 Walking Nuns……………………………………………………… 17 Rule and Constitution……………………………………………… 18 Circumstance of Disease…………………………………………… 19 United States……………………………………………………….. 24 Pennsylvania……………………………………………………….. 24 Sisters of Mercy Hospitals…………………………………………. 25 v Illinois………………………………………………………………. 25 Iowa…………………………………………………………………. 27 Sisters of Mercy in Siouxland………………………………………. 29 Scholars on the History of Catherine McAuley & the Sisters of Mercy 31 Conclusion……………….…………………………………….……….. 33 Research Limitations…….…………………………………….……….. 35 The Careful Nursing Model……………………………………………. 36 Background………………………………………………………….. 37 Philosophy………………………………………………………... 43 Human Being………………………………………………… 43 An Infinite Transcendent Reality……………………………. 44 Health………………………………………………………... 44 Use of the Philosophy in Contemporary Healthcare Systems.. 45 The Careful Nursing Professional Practice Model……………………… 45 Chapter 3: Method and Procedures………………………………………..... 47 Introduction…………………………………………...……………...… 47 Research Design…………………………………………...…………… 47 Historiography Method Framework………………………………. 47 First Stage…………………………………………………… 47 Case Study and Oral History Framework…………… 48 Second Stage………………………………………………… 49 Third Stage…………………………………………………... 50 Fourth Stage…………………………………………………. 50 vi Final Stage…………………………………………………… 52 Rigor and Trustworthiness……………………………………………… 52 Reliability and Validity……………………………………………… 53 Instruments…………………………….……………………………… 53 Samples……………………………….……………………………… 54 Study Setting..………………………………...……………………… 54 Study Procedures……………………………………………………… 55 Ethical Issues…………….…………………………………………… 57 Analysis..……………………………………………………………… 58 Chapter 4: Results …………...……….………………….………………… 60 The Silver Years (1890-1915)..…………………………………………. 60 Impact on Siouxland Community and Public Health………………… 61 Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Siouxland…………………………… 62 Circumstances of Disasters and Disease………………………….. 75 1892 Flood River Flood………………………………………. 75 1893 Tornado near Pomeroy…………………………………. 75 1901 Fire and the Sisters of Saint Benedict…………………… 75 Impact on Nursing…………………………………………………... 76 Sisters of Mercy…………………………………………………. 76 Training School for Nurses……………………………………… 81 Alma Mater & Alumni of St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing 90 Augusta Hefner……………………………………………. 91 Sister Mary Carmelita Manning…………………………… 92 vii The Golden Years (1916-1940)..…………………………………………. 94 Impact on Siouxland Community and Public Health………………… 94 Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Siouxland…………………………… 95 Circumstances of War, Disease, and Financial Devastation…….... 103 1917 World War One….………………………………………. 103 1918 Spanish Influenza……..…………………………………. 104 The 1929 Depression………………...………………………… 106 Impact on Nursing…………………………………………………... 108 Sisters of Mercy…………………………………………………. 108 School of Nursing………...……………………………………… 113 The Mercy Nurse’s Cap, Uniform, School Pin and Pledge..… 119 Alma Mater & Alumni of St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing 122 Augusta Hefner……………………………………………. 122 Golden Jubilee…………………………………………………… 125 The Diamond Years (1941-1965)..……………………………………….. 126 Impact on Siouxland Community and Public Health………………… 127 Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Siouxland…………………………… 127 Circumstances of Disaster and Disease…………………………..... 136 1949 Swift & Company Plant Explosion……………………… 137 1952 Polio Epidemic in Siouxland……………………………. 142 1952 Hammon Gamma Globulin Field Trial in Siouxland…… 143 Impact on Nursing…………………………………………………... 167 Sisters of Mercy…………………………………………………. 167 viii Sister Mary Stanislaus Carey……………………………….... 167 130th Anniversary of the RSM Order in 1961………………... 170 School of Nursing………...……………………………………… 170 St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing Golden Jubilee in 1950.. 170 Diamond Jubilee………………………………….……………… 174 Alma Mater & Alumni of St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing 178 Augusta Hefner……………………………………………. 179 Mother Provincial Mary Carmelita Manning……………… 180 Sister Mary Coralita Ellerbrock…………………………… 185 Sister Elizabeth Mary Burns………………………………. 188 Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions with Analysis…..………………… 192 Summary ………………………………………………………………… 192 Religious Sisters of Mercy……………………………………………. 192 Fusing the Prisms of Time……………………………………………. 192 The Silver Years (1890-1915)………………………………………… 193 The Golden Years (1916-1940)………………………………………. 195 The Diamond Years (1941-1965)…………………………………….. 197 Research Questions & Thesis Findings in an Overview…..….………. 200 Conclusions and Analysis………………………………………………… 203 The Religious Sisters of Mercy……………………………………….. 204 Charism and Charity………………………………………………. 206 Financial Challenges………………………………………………. 209 Sisterhood Unity…………………………………………………… 209 ix Social Events………………………………………………………. 210 Educating the Religious Mercy Nurse…………………………….. 210 The St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing Student…………………… 214 The Mercy Nurse…………………………………………………….. 218 Implications in Nursing.………………………………………..……….. 222 Limitations……………………………………………………………….. 227 Recommendations for Future Study…………………………….………... 229 References……………………………………………………..……………. 232 Appendices…………………………………………………………………. 249 A. The Careful Nursing Professional Practice Model……………………. 249 B. Cover Letter ………………………………………………..…..……. 250 C. Human Subjects Form ……………………….……………………… 251 D. Permission: Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City……………………... 252 E. Permission: Therese Meehan for Careful Nursing Model................... 253 F. Permission: South Dakota State University IRB Committee………... 254 G. Permission: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Mercy Heritage Center 255 H. Permission: Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community Archives... 256 I. Permission: Trinity Heights’ St. Joseph Center/Museum…………… 257 J. Permission: Sioux City Research Center………………………......... 258 K. Permission: Sioux City Public Library…………………………........ 259 L. Permission: the Sioux City