School of Nursing Begins

Autumn, 1974- College Sophomore

Finally! I began the School of Nursing with my 200 classmates. We studied Nursing Theory and Growth & Development, but Physiology challenged me the most. God made our bodies extremely complex. Half of my class started with two quarters of Physiology and the other half began with one quarter of Anatomy. I wish I could have started with Anatomy. I also continued with private violin lessons and began group piano lessons for my electives.

In the Nursing Laboratory, we learned to take blood pressures, temperature, pulse, respirations, give bed baths, and make beds. We had our clinical time at a nursing home and took care of our two assigned patients weekly. My summer as a nursing assistant made me feel comfortable in this setting.

Ohio State is a huge football school ranked number 1 in the country. But since I didn’t understand the game of football, I didn’t go to any games. Instead, I went to the Health Sciences Library and read all my required articles on reserve. It’s difficult to access them in the evening when all the other students are there because they only have a few copies. This new library located beside the University Hospital is used by all the medical disciplines. Because the books are so expensive, all the bookshelves are behind glass. When I check one out, I give the employee my student identification card, he enters the request in the computer, and then I wait while the huge amazing mechanical arm gets it from the shelf and puts it on the conveyor belt. I enjoy visiting the numerous libraries on campus to vary my study environment.

Five women eagerly came to my room every week to hear God’s Word. The Lord blessed me with a godly roommate who also attends the Bible class. We had precious times of fellowship and prayer and shared the gospel with the other women in our dorm. Because my classes required so much more study than last year, I quit my job at the library and stopped teaching the children’s Bible clubs.

I have continued with the home Bible study program and was encouraged when I read the biography of Amy Carmichael, a missionary lady to India. She rescued orphans from the Hindu temples and started a large orphanage for them where she and her coworkers taught them the Word of God as they raised and educated them.

I also read a biography about Isobel Kuhn, a missionary with China Inland Mission to the Lisu people in western China. I thank the Lord for these godly examples. Isobel Kuhn taught a women’s Bible class in Canada before she went to China and challenged them with Hebrews 6:1 “…let us go on unto perfection (maturity)” which I passed on to my women’s class.

Dear Reader, I hope you take the time to read books about and by Amy Carmichael and Isobel Kuhn, readily available on archive.org or Kindle. They are still two of my favorite authors. Isobel Kuhn’s grandson is still a missionary in Thailand who I was delighted to meet recently. He said, “I’m glad Grandma Isobel’s books have been such a blessing to you!”