George B. Hamilton School of Nursing
National Nurses Week is celebrated May 6 – 12 to honor the courageous and compassionate men and women who dedicate their lives to the care of others. The nurses at Olney Hamilton Hospital will be celebrated with various activities throughout the week. Please consider celebrating our nurses by acknowledging them for their service when you see them in the community.
A quote that always comes to my mind whenever I am in the care of a nurse is the quote by Dr. Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I’m grateful for the nurses who have made me feel at ease during medical treatment. Recently, I had the opportunity to converse with two nurses who are dedicated to making sure their patients feel good. Linda Koetter and Verma Fobbs are graduates of the George B. Hamilton School of Nursing, who took time to reflect on their fond memories about nursing school and how nursing has changed throughout the years.
Dr. George Hamilton started the George B. Hamilton School of Nursing in 1959 with the cooperation of Olney ISD. Olney Hamilton Hospital Board President Dale Lovett said, “The goal of the course was to pass the LVN (licensed vocational nurse) certification of the Texas Boards for Nursing. In that class of 22, all passed the boards on the first test (according to Kathrine Atchley, daughter of Dr. Hamilton). The school continued to educate women who had raised their families and began nursing later in life. The last class graduated in 1986.”
Linda Koetter graduated from the George B. Hamilton School of Nursing in 1981. She said her class began with 11 nurses and dropped to six who completed the program. After nursing school, Linda worked for the Archer City Hospital and then moved to a nursing home in Wichita Falls before returning to work at Olney Hamilton Hospital in 1996. She said she was one of four nurses from Archer City who carpooled to nursing school every morning.
“Back when I was in nursing school, we were required to wear our full uniform that included a blue and white striped pinafore with white hose and white shoes. We were not allowed to wear makeup or nail polish. Things are much different now in nursing school,” Koetter said.
Koetter shared that her fondest memories were of the strict but fair instructors, making her realize that nursing is a rewarding career when you get to help others. She said, “The best part of my job is getting to bond with the patients and when the patients realize that I am on their side.”
Koetter said she wishes someone would have told her to keep a journal of changes during her career and a list of the people she has helped and those who have touched her heart. She re-called a few things that have changed since she entered the nursing field. She said the IV bags used to be glass bottles, and bedpans, now disposable, were once metal and required sterilization.
Verma Fobbs began working at Olney Hamilton Hospital in 1978 and resigned in 1979 to enroll in the George B. Hamilton School of Nursing. After graduating from nursing school in 1980, she returned to OHH as an LVN, leaving in 1989 to work in Seymour. She returned to OHH in June 1993 and became a first surgical assistant in November 1993.
Fobbs’s fondest memory about the George B. Hamilton School of Nursing was the ability to work at a place and attend nursing school without having to travel. She said this was convenient for her with five small children at home.
“My husband, Joe, prompted me to go to nursing school, but I had to earn a GED first. I learned about Olney while attending the GED classes. I told my husband that if half the people in Olney were as sweet as the girl who taught the GED classes, Olney was the place I wanted to be,” Fobbs said.
Fobbs’s love for Olney flows over to her job as a nurse. She said nurses are patient advocates, ensuring that patients receive the best care from the time they are admitted until the time they are released. She said although nursing is a tough job, technology has made the job easier during the past decade. “We used to be required to sterilize our surgical gloves and packs. But now, most of it is disposable and prepackaged.” Despite technology, Fobbs said nursing is, has always been, and will continue to be a caring field. “It’s always about your patients,” she said.
Advice to the younger generation considering a job in nursing, Fobbs said, “If you fail the first time, try again. Set goals and trust God.” Refer to Fobbs’s opinion piece with details about her journey to Olney.
Thanks to all the nurses in the Olney community and the surrounding areas. We love you and appreciate your tireless service. Happy Nurses Week!
George B. Hamilton School of Nursing’s last graduating class from 1986 Photo courtesy of Verma Fobbs