BC Memorial Book may now be viewed online

 The BC Memorial Book, initiated in the early 1990’s by RNABC, is now available for viewing on-line.  The book tells the stories of “courageous nursing pioneers who made significant contributions to nursing in British Columbia, to the nursing profession, and to the health of people and communities.”

The Memorial Book has now been moved from CRNBC to ARNBC who arranged to have it digitized. It may now be viewed online by clicking http://www.arnbc.ca/ebook/

 

Canadian Nursing Sister will be honoured in Naval Ship naming

Margaret Brooke, who just turned 100 years old and lives in Victoria, BC,  was a nursing sister in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, and was on board the SS Caribou when it was hit by a German torpedo and sank off the coast of Newfoundland.

Click on the links below to read the story of her heroism and see her photos.

Remembering Helen Saunders 1917 – 2014

Photo Credit: VGH SON Alumnae Archives

Helen Saunders, who many will remember as an Instructor in the OR, died at age 97 in Victoria BC. She wished to stay in her home as long as possible, and this was achieved. I recall climbing up the circular stair case to the OR in the evening to practice draping and other OR procedures in order to be prepared for the next morning. One did not want Helen’s disapproval at not being ready. As one VGH graduate said-“I was scared stiff. She was stern and serious.”  My excellent skill in aseptic technique lasted throughout my entire career, thanks to Helen. In later years, she was rather puzzled by the image she created.

Helen was born in New Zealand and the family traveled internationally before settling in Victoria. She graduated from VGH in 1939 and from UBC School of Nursing with a BASc(N), in 1940.  Following graduation she worked in the slums in Chicago before joining the Army as a nursing sister in 1944.  Following the War she took the new Post Graduate Course in OR Nursing at VGH and then the Teaching and Supervision course at UBC.  She was hired by VGH and taught in the School for 11 years before resigning to obtain a Masters degree in Nursing Education at the University of Washington. Helen moved back to Victoria where she worked at the Royal Jubilee hospital as an In-service Education Supervisor.  She retired in 1975 to care for her parents. While in retirement Helen devoted herself to trying to improve available health care and was an integral contributor to the completion of the new Patient Tower at Royal Jubilee Hospital. She was a caring aunt and was fortunate in having many dear friends and neighbours who watched out for her.  It was said she would love nothing more than for all of us to reminisce with fond memories over a cup of Earl Grey.

Sources: Victoria Times Colonist, Dec 7 2014, Amazing Alumni Stories, UBC School of Nursing website.

By Ethel Warbinek

Nursing Network Cafe: April 9th 6:45-8:30 PM

Trinity Western University School of Nursing is hosting a networking café for nurses to get together in a collegial environment to discuss topics of interest.

Photo Credit: TWU poster

The April speaker is Susan Martens Kehler who has an inspiring history to share about her years at the Mennonite Christian Hospital Nursing School Taiwan (1957-1980). Dr. Sonya Grypma will offer a commentary on the relevance of nursing history to the nursing profession of today.

For further information, directions and parking information RSVP to [email protected], by April 3, 2015 or call 604-888-7511, local 3239.

Long time BCHNS Member, Kirstine Griffith passes

Remembering Kirstine (Adam) (Buckland) Griffith (1922 – 2014)

Kirstine Griffith, a long- standing History of Nursing member and loyal supporter of our group, died on December 5, 2014 following a brief illness. I will remember her wonderful smile and friendly greeting, always interested in others and nursing events.  Many will remember her hand-crafted cards with pressed flowers. Kirstine or “Kris” as she was known by her nursing friends, was a devoted wife, mother, and nurse.

Kirstine was born in Vancouver and from an early age always knew she would become a nurse. Most of her childhood was spent in Chemanius and later the family moved to Vancouver where she attended high school. She enrolled in the UBC School of Nursing program in 1940 graduating from the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing portion of her course in 1944 and from UBC with a BASc(N) in 1945. During her university years she met her future husband, Dr. Don Buckland, who later became a well known and highly respected Forestry Professor.

The following anecdote will amuse our members:
“I had an interview with Miss Grey, Head of the UBC nursing program, as I had failed an exam in the History of Nursing. I was informed History of Nursing was quite romantic enough without my efforts to rewrite it. Later when I was teaching nursing, one course I refused to teach was the History of Nursing.” (From Don’s Story, page 86)

Following graduation, Kirstine and Don married, and she worked for the Saanich Health Department for two years.  The family moved back to Vancouver and Kirstine spent the next several years looking after Don and their three children Elizabeth, Dorothy, and David. Don’s eyesight began to fail as a complication of diabetes and Kirstine assisted him with reading, writing, and just getting around as a visually impaired person.  Tragically, Don died in 1956 at age 38 and Kirstine returned to her nursing career, becoming the VGH Student Health Clinic nurse. Later she taught various courses in the School, taking time off to earn a MA degree from UBC.  She married Braham Griffith in 1969 and remained at VGH until her retirement in 1982. Braham died in 1998.

In retirement she remained active with several projects such as dressing VGH dolls in uniforms from 1896-1975. These are now part of the VGH School of Nursing Alumnae Archives.  Never idle, in 1996 she wrote the “The Religious Aspects of Nursing Care” which outlines the practices of 34 religions. Proceeds from the sales have been directed to nursing scholarships.  Kirstine was an active member of the UBC School of Nursing Alumnae Division and over the years, graciously hosted many meetings at her home. I fondly remember visiting her and was amazed at her ability to knit, read, and talk all at the same time – obviously a master at multitasking. She will be missed.

To learn more about the Adam and Buckland families you can come to our BCHNS Archives at UBC and view the CD  “Don’s Story” compiled by Kirstine Griffith in 2005 in memory of her husband.

By Ethel Warbinek

 

Ethel Johns historic plaque unveiled

Ethel Johns, first Director of the UBC School of Nursing, has been honored by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Parks Canada, as a “Person of National Historic Significance”.  Johns is one of a very few nurses that have been so honoured.

Photo Credit: BCHNS Lenore Radom

A recognition ceremony on February 10, 2015 at Cecil Green Park at UBC was attended by 40 guests. For a full report on the event please visit http://news.ubc.ca/2015/02/10/ubcs-first-nursing-school-director-celebrated-as-person-of-national-historic-significance/

The bronze plaque will likely be mounted in the patient park near the Koerner Acute Care Hospital Pavilion, which now houses the UBC School of Nursing.

Many thanks to BCHNS members Glennis Zilm and Nan Martin who have worked tirelessly and diligently with Parks Canada for many years to see this recognition happen.

To view more photos click on link below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ubcschoolofnursing/sets/72157648558819033/