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                           JeffNEWS, May 1, 1995
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Janet C. Hindson, RN, Retires and With Her, a Tradition
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To paraphrase the 1950 yearbook of the School of Nursing, Jefferson
Medical College and Medical Center, Janet C. Hindson has a fun-loving
personality and is bound to be noticed everywhere.
 
From the time Miss Hindson began her training here until she retired
several weeks ago, she has achieved recognition for many things: her
superb organizational skills, her commitment to excellence and, from
the 1950s on, wearing her nurse's cap. With her retirement, you won't
be seeing any more white caps at Jefferson.
 
"Miss Hindson's commitment to excellence, whether in patient care
or the attire of the nurses she supervised, was the 'gold standard'
against which she measured her own performance and that of her
colleagues," said Mary Ann McGinley, RN, MSN, the hospital's associate
executive director for patient services. When Ms. McGinley was a floor
nurse, Miss Hindson was a supervisor.
 
In the 1970s, when nurses nationwide began to shed their white caps,
Miss Hindson steadfastly continued to wear hers, as well as her
traditional all-white uniform.
 
"I was proud of my cap; I worked hard for it," she says. And was she
ever noticed!
 
Over the years, patients, doctors and nurses have made comments
about her attire such as, "I love that cap," and "You really look like
a nurse." This reinforced Miss Hindson's decision to retain her cap
and uniform.
 
"In the last few years, when Janet's responsibilities spanned the
entire nursing department and spread throughout the hospital complex,
she inspired respect among other nurses for continuing to dress
traditionally," Ms. McGinley said. "When she represented the nursing
department on the safety or infection control committees, her cap and
uniform made the nursing presence felt strongly."
 
Along with friends Betty Piersol, RN, and Margaret Summers, RN, who
staff the Jefferson Nurses Alumni Association Office, Miss Hindson
reminisced about what it was like to be a nurse 45 years ago. "We did
everything," she said.
 
"In addition to patient care, we were expected to keep rooms and
nursing stations clean," Miss Piersol said.
 
"We also dished out the patients' food individually from food carts
that came to each floor, and came in at 6 a.m. to prepare food for
patients with diabetes," Miss Summers said.
 
"My philosophy about patients was that I looked at all of them as
members of my family and wanted them to have the same fine care I'd
want my own family to have," Miss Hindson said.
 

The History of the Jefferson Nurses' Cap
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Jefferson graduated its first class of nurses in 1893. At that time,
the cap that was worn had a high crown and a wide brim with a ruffle
around it. The cap was made of a delicate material called "lawn,"
similar to material used for handkerchiefs. The cap resembled the
Philadelphia General nursing school cap, which at that time was made
of a similar material.
 
In 1894, Susan Hearle, a graduate of Philadelphia General, became
directress of nurses at Jefferson. When Miss Hearle noticed the
similarity between the two caps, she decided that Jefferson nurses
should have their own distinctive one.
 
The crown was lowered, the ruffle was removed and the brim was
narrowed, flattened and spread like wing tips across the front of the
cap. The material was changed to organdy, which gave the cap more
body.
 
In 1932, the cap was worn with the brim starched and the wings made
to stand out - and that is how the hat was worn until the closing of
the School of Nursing in June 1982.
 
Initially, it was traditional to receive the cap after passing the
six-month probationary period. In later years, it was given to the
students when they entered school.
 
Wearing the cap was a great responsibility because it symbolized
humility and service to humanity.
 
It was a responsibility also because the Jefferson cap was
recognized and respected the world over, being worn by the school's
5,078 graduates. Students were entrusted with the cap and were
expected to wear it with dignity and to uphold the Jefferson
tradition.
 

National Nurses Week Events, May 6 to 12
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Tuesday, May 9
   o 11 a.m.
     Nurses' poster exhibit and children's clothesline art exhibit
     opens, Mezzanine level, East and West Atrium
   o 1:30 p.m.
     "Restructuring the Healthcare System: Nurses and Nursing in the
     90s and Beyond"
     Presented by Leah L. Curtin, MS, MA, DSc, RN, FAAN
     Editor-in Chief, Nursing Management
     McClellan Hall
     Reception follows

Wednesday,  May 10
   o 6:45 to 9 a.m.
     Continental breakfast for nursing staff, sponsored by Jefferson
     Home Infusion Service, Jefferson Apothecary and Jefferson
     Pharmacy
     West Atrium
   o 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
     Meet the poster presenters. Last chance to view children's art
     exhibit


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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