A Caring Legacy

The Training School for Nurses was established April 15th, 1920, with Sister Mary Alphonsus Mulryan, one of the original “tent sisters,” as the first director. The school started with one young lady entering with credits from the Nampa General Hospital, and four probationers. On
February 9th,1922, the first graduation exercises were held.

Mercy’s Training School for Nurses focused on selecting well-qualified students and providing them with the educational experiences in various clinical services so that they could learn to give total patient care.

The first four months of the nursing course was a pre-clinical period devoted primarily to the study of Nursing. Upon successful completion of these courses the student would be formally accepted into the school. Students gained experience in medical, surgical, obstetrical and dietary departments at Mercy Hospital.

The School of Nursing closed in 1953. Three years later a School of Practical Nursing was opened with Sister Mulryan supervising.

Sister Mulryan with nurses, 1969