Proud to Wear my South Side Cap

Ruth (Wagner) Bershok entered South Side School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1958. In this book she traces her nearly 60-year journey through the field of nursing. She begins as a teenaged student nurse starching her cap, learning the rules of etiquette for student nurses, and rotating through clinicals. The journey continues through decades filled with changes in medical technologies and attitudes. She vividly recalls the first time a medical doctor asked for the opinion of the nursing staff. Her journey navigates through many challenging events including an earthquake, a lengthy strike, and a hospital evacuation. Additionally, having served the vast majority of her career as a hospital's night shift supervisor, the author delightfully devotes a chapter to "The Unexplained." This book reflects the joys, sorrows, frustrations, compassion, and soul's enrichment inherent to the author's lengthy nursing career.

Ruth (Wagner) Bershok entered South Side School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1958. In this book she traces her nearly 60-year journey through the field of nursing. She begins as a teenaged student nurse starching her cap, learning the rules of etiquette for student nurses, and rotating through clinicals. The journey continues through decades filled with changes in medical technologies and attitudes. She vividly recalls the first time a medical doctor asked for the opinion of the nursing staff. Having completed both a three-year nursing school and, later, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the author speaks to the pros and cons of both paths to a nursing career. Her journey navigates through many challenging events including an earthquake, a lengthy and bitter strike, and a hospital evacuation. Additionally, having served the vast majority of her career on the hospital's night shift, the author delightfully devotes a chapter to "The Unexplained." This book reflects the joys, sorrows, frustrations, compassion, and soul's enrichment inherent to the author's lengthy nursing career.

Ruth Bershok graduated from South Side School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in June 1961, and obtained her Registered Nurse (RN) license after her Boards that summer. She began her career in a small community hospital in her hometown of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. After following her Active Duty husband and working in different facilities in California, she returned to Canonsburg where she soon became the night shift supervisor of the hospital. She served in that position for four decades. Although already a licensed RN, she pursued a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN), graduating with honors from Pennsylvania State University in May 1990. She then obtained a Masters in Health Service Administration, graduating with honors in May 1995 from the University of Saint Francis. She retired from nursing in 2017, and has enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and reflecting on her career journey in this book.