This paper provides a critical analysis of primary sources, such as publications, diaries and letters by the battlefield nurses and secondary sources addressing the involvement of women nurses (battlefield angels) in the American civil war. Battlefield Nurses during the Civil War Volunteer nurses were invaluably resourceful during the civil war by providing aid and comfort to wounded as well as sick soldiers. At the beginning of the national struggle, the nursing profession was dominated by men due to the consideration that women were too frail to handle the severities of administering to the wounded and sick. The insufficient medical supplies and insufficient medical treatment in
Seacole was a black Jamaican nurse who wanted to help Florence Nightingale’s team of nurses during the Crimean War but her efforts were thwart due to her skin color. Despite this, she utilized her own resources and money to aid soldiers during the war. Being a person
She is known for decreasing mortality rates in hospitals during the Crimean War (George, 2011). She documentated her observations and data formulating her environmental theory by adjusting the environment she was able to decrease mortality. These concepts of providing fresh air, sanitation, light and clean water continue to remain important today. In additions some of her lesser known work included challenges to prejudices against women and focuses on unifying science and religion in a meaningful way. Hildegard Peplau published the first nursing theory in 1952 and was recognized internationally as a nurse leader.
The Nursing Profession in the 1900’s compared to Nursing in the 21st century Abstract Nurses worked at the forefront of science in the early 20th century as seen in the picture below. Nursing has had drastic changes over the many years, some fundamental aspects have not changed, ongoing training, help in development of new treatments, educating patients, are some that remained immensely important to nursing. Implementing new treatments like light therapy at the London Hospital. Danish scientist Niels Finsen developed this treatment, which concentrated light through a lens, to help treat skin tuberculosis by killing the bacteria that caused the disease. ( History of Medicine Division, NLM 2014) The Nursing Profession in the 1900’s compared to Nursing in the 21st century History of Medicine Division, NLM Nursing history Duties of nursing as it is today is virtually unrecognizable when compared to the duties of nurses in the early 20th century.
Who had the greater impact on nursing in the Crimean War- Florence Nightingale or Mary Seacole? Even though I believe that Mary Seacole is the better nurse and she helped more soldiers, I think that Florence Nightingale had a bigger impact on nursing because for one, she did run a big team of nurses in a hospital and set up a nursing school after the war but two, Mary Seacole had no way of impacting nurses because she was bankrupted after the war and she worked on the front line. Florence Nightingale had formal nurse training and went to help the soldiers in the Crimean war because she was invited to head the nursing staff there through the influence of powerful friends: Sidney Herbert (secretary at war at the beginning of the Crimean conflict) and his wife Elizabeth. Nightingale was to be accompanied by a team of 38 nurses who were picked by a committee who was careful to keep a religious balance among the volunteer nurses. On the other side of the world, Mary Seacole learnt about nursing from her mother which was informal unlike Florence Nightingales training.
Historical Figures of Nursing Diane Eugenio NUR/391 January 20, 2013 Tricia Proctor Historical Figures of Nursing Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton were two intelligent, dedicated, and brave women who gained worldwide adulation (Spiegel, 1995, p. 501) and helped advance the practice of modern day nursing. Nightingale, using statistics, decreased the amount of soldiers’ deaths due to infection during the Crimean War and created a system of training nurses that would lead to them being considered “professional” for the first time. Clara Barton “embarked on a lengthy struggle to found the American Red Cross” (Spiegel, p. 501), which to this day gives aid and comfort following calamities throughout the world. Florence Nightingale came from an upper class family in England. She was well-educated, after completing her studies in math, natural science, Greek, Latin, German, French, Italian, and ancient and modern literature (Egenes, 2009, p. 4).
A Review of: And If I Perish Frontline US Army Nurses in World War II By Dennis M Jack, RN D’Youville College NUR 609 Professional Role Development And If I Perish Frontline US Army Nurses In World War II (Monahan & Neidel-Greenlee, 2004) is a compelling story of the courageous female registered nurses, as male registered nurses were forced into infantry duty rather than their trained profession, that volunteered for service in the US army along with other medical professionals and their patients during the battles of world war II throughout the European and North African theaters of war. The many stories of caring for the wounded allied and enemy troops made it a difficult but mesmerizing read. From the training they received
One survivor that stuck out was Margaret Hastings, as she had a personality that was funny, and serious that couldn’t be disliked. Margaret is an emotional character, however it was overpowered by her strength. When Sergeant Laura Besley died, “Margaret knew that [the shoes] came from the body of her good friend and double date partner. (...) Wearing Laura’s shoes might be the difference between life and death” (Zuckoff 75). Margaret Hastings was mourning the life of her friend, however her survival instincts and her strength overpowered the sadness coming from the loss of Laura.
Through this adversity however, Mrs. Duvitch exemplifies extreme character and fearlessness – qualities which eventually change the public’s perception of her. Mrs. Duvitch is a fearless nurse whose gift for healing further integrated her into the surrounding society. It is stated on page 15 in the text that: “The community presently had reason to be grateful for Mrs. Duvitch’s presence. It turned out that she had a great gift for nursing and was often counted on in severe illness, never wavering.” Acceptance by those around you is the true source of freedom, and as the individual members of Mrs. Duvitch’s community recess from judgment they learn about her skill and gentle nature signifying the positive impact she will make on their lives both as a nurse and a friend. Rooting from her shyness, Mrs. Duvitch’s delicacy and grace was apparent in both conversation and ailment.
History of the American Red Cross Jane Delano, a former Red Cross nurse, once said “I would rather live on a crust and serve the Red Cross than do anything else in the world.”(Bulman 32). The American Red Cross has had a huge impact on the United States. Whether helping soldiers in combat or supporting a community that suffered from a natural disaster, the Red Cross is there to aid individuals, families, communities and military personnel in one way or another. Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, is responsible for the administration and service that the American Red Cross provides, not only in the United States but also in other countries. The founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, started her volunteer work