Head Nurse Rosa McCormick Was Honored for her 33 Year Service at Boston City Hospital

Miss Rosa McCormick, who became one of first nurses hired by Boston City Hospital when it opened its doors in 1864, was an accomplished heath care worker whose compassion and skills on behalf of her patients was legendary.  

She was born in Ireland in 1835, the daughter of Michael and Mary (nee) McGowan. The family settled in   Roxbury and Mission Hill, and Rosa later moved to Harrison Avenue near the hospital.

Rosa was an assistant nurse with the first patients who were admitted to Boston City Hospital in June 1864, before becoming Head Nurse for many years.      

Records at the City of Boston Archives note the following: "Rosa McCormick, first candidate ever admitted to the Boston City Hospital Nursing School in 1878, graduated 1879. Started working at BCH the day it opened, June 1, 1864, was on active duty until February 1892. On duty at the Convalescent Home from Feb. 1892 to Feb. 1897. Died at the Hospital on July 31, 1897 of bronchitis."

The Boston City Hospital Nurses Club held a special memorial event in memory of Rosa on November 2, 1897. Here is an account of her career from Trained Nurse magazine:

"For two years she devoted herself to their care, working early and late in their behalf and showing an interest and zeal that could be accounted for only on the score of her love for humanity, since it was previous to the days of training schools and the time when nursing began to be considered a profession. Having been faithful in that which is least she was given charge of a ward and became a head nurse in 1866 in which capacity she continued to serve the hospital. 

"When the School of Nursing was opened in June 1878, Rosa became one of its first members and took the course in technical instruction, having been engaged in the practical work of nursing for 14 years. She received her diploma May 31 1879. She remained in charge of a ward until February 7 1892, when an illness incapacitated her. 

“The 28 years of devoted service that she had rendered the hospital had made such inroads upon her health and strength and caused age to steal upon her with such rapidity as to make her return impossible. On February 24, 1892, she was admitted as a patient to the Convalescent Home, where it was hoped she would regain sufficient health and strength to resume the active duties of hospital ward work. 

"But owing to the thoughtfulness of the superintendent of the hospital and the generosity of the trustees, she was assigned work suited to her capacity at the Convalescent Home, and was given remuneration for her services there, as to secure the independence so dear to every self-respecting person. She remained on duty at the Convalescent Home until February 26 1897 when she returned to the hospital as a patient where her illness though not a painful one caused a gradual decline to the end which came July 31 1897."

According to the City of Boston Archives, “her only surviving relatives are a sister, Mrs. Sarah Barclay of 17 Taber Street, Roxbury, and a nephew, a son of Mrs. Barclay.” A funeral mass was held for her at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Boston’s South End. 

At the memorial exercises of the Nurses Club, held November 2 1897, there were many tributes to McCormick’s memory from those who remembered her devotion to duty, her loyalty to authority and her unfailing kindness to each and every patient in her charge. 

 The following Resolution was adopted: 

     Whereas: It has pleased Almighty God to remove by death Miss Rosa McCormick, an honored member of the Boston City Hospital Training School for Nurses Club and Alumnae Association: 

     Resolved: That the members of these organizations bear witness to the example of loyalty and devotion shown by this pioneer nurse; 

     Resolved: That these resolutions be preserved in the records of the Club and Alumnae Association and a copy be sent to the family of the deceased and be offered for publication in the Trained Nurse. 

Image courtesy of BCH School of Nursing

In 1889, the Boston Evening Transcript gave a shout-out to McCormick for her 25 years of service writing, "Miss Rose McCormack, the head nurse in Ward B, City Hospital, yesterday completed her twenty-fifth year as nurse at the hospital.  She received a purse and many other gifts from the trustees and physicians of the hospital in recognition of her good work."

Nurse McCormick died at age 62 on July 31, 1897.  Her funeral was held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the South End.  

 

Read more about the Boston City Hospital Nurses Association.