Most female student nurses lived at the Nurses’ Residence under the watchful eye of a house mother. The doors were locked at 11:15 p.m. and stayed locked until after 6 a.m. Anyone planning on going out for a late evening or away for any overnight stay had to
sign out. The house mothers kept a report book which was handed in each morning to the Nursing Office for the Superintendent of Nursing.
House mothers in the early 1950s were Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Rowley, and Mrs. Blades. Students having the misfortune of becoming ill were sent to the sick ward. Care was provided by ward staff and treatment was prescribed by the doctor in charge of the sick ward. Students remained there until they recovered and were able to return to work. As a result, most of the students remained very healthy.
Meals were sent from the kitchen on special light cream-coloured china featuring a wine-coloured band which was immediately recognized as used for the staff on sick ward.
In 1951, the amount deducted off nurses’ pay cheques for a months board and room was $22.50. After the other few deductions, roughly $60 was left. This wasn’t all that grim considering a taxi from the Nurses’ Residence into town took all of 50 cents!
Comments