10/08/2026
The Parkview Methodist Hospital School of Nursing first began in 1897 when it was called Hope Hospital. The first class of eight women graduated in 1900. In 1903 there were twenty nurses in training. When Parkview opened its new location at State and Randallia Streets in 1953, the School of Nursing soon followed when the first students moved into an adjacent residential building in January 1954 with a capacity of 120 trainees. After ninety-four years in operation, Parkview Methodist Hospital School of Nursing closed in 1991 after having trained over 2,404 nurses at the Randallia campus. The last class of thirty-two students graduated in May 1991. After that time those interested in nursing careers were referred to Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. In 1949, the School of Nursing changed their uniforms from an all-white dress to a blue and white striped blouse, a white skirt (that was to fall one inch below the knee,) a white bib apron and a white cap. This style was last worn by the graduating class of 1969, which presented the Historical Society with this uniform. Presumably few others survived as the ladies burned the rest at the traditional burning party on the lawn behind English Hall.
