How many nurses out there still had to learn this pledge?? I did when I was in college and I was just wondering if anyone else had had to memorize it too.
Florence Nightingale Pledge
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.
Thank goodness I never heard this before! No way would I have said that! I am not a handmaiden and nursing is not a calling! Nuns are called. I work for a living.
i didn't go to my pinning ceremony so i don't know what was said.
the only thing i would have had trouble saying was that i wouldn't give any harmful drugs. a good portion of what i do involves giving drugs with potentially harmful side effects.
i so don't see the whole doctor's handmaiden thing that people are talking about. if it is the phrase about aiding the doctors, ummm that is part of what i do.
aid
[color=#558811]-verb (used with object) 1.to provide support for or relief to; help: to aid the homeless victims of the fire. 2.to promote the progress or accomplishment of; facilitate.
i help them provide patient care, the same way they help me provide patient care. our individual functions as we aid each other are different, but there is a symbiotic relationship that can exist between doctors and nurses.
Thank goodness I never heard this before! No way would I have said that! I am not a handmaiden and nursing is not a calling! Nuns are called. I work for a living.
Sorry Island 40, but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I do believe in my choice of becoming a nurse it was because I felt a calling to help out the sick, the poor , and the needy. I've given my coat off my back to a nursing friend in school because she was too poor to own one. I'm just that kind of person. Not looking for no pats on the back: I wrote this to clarify my position on the pledge and nursing.
I agree with you. Just this morning I was reading about her - this thread made me notice an article about her life.
She was a remarkable woman for her time . . . I can honor that.
steph
I can honor her as well, without making a pledge to her or someone elses God. In this very forum I distinctly remember defending her relavence to nursing practice and her contributions.
Sorry Island 40, but I have to respectfully disagree with you. I do believe in my choice of becoming a nurse it was because I felt a calling to help out the sick, the poor , and the needy. I've given my coat off my back to a nursing friend in school because she was too poor to own one. I'm just that kind of person. Not looking for no pats on the back: I wrote this to clarify my position on the pledge and nursing.
I've helped out the needy many times myself, not because I was "called" but because it's the right thing to do sometimes. I have chosen only to work for not-for-profits that care for the community regardless of their ability to pay.
I completely totally respect those whom are called to nursing. But in 2007, it's not fair to lump us all in that group In 2007 many of us like science, like people, and need to make a living in a field that pays a good middle income.
I also would have exercised my rights and not taken the FN pledge.
I've helped out the needy many times myself, not because I was "called" but because it's the right thing to do sometimes. I have chosen only to work for not-for-profits that care for the community regardless of their ability to pay.
I completely totally respect those whom are called to nursing. But in 2007, it's not fair to lump us all in that group In 2007 many of us like science, like people, and need to make a living in a field that pays a good middle income.
I also would have exercised my rights and not taken the FN pledge.
I don't see my message referring or lumping all of you, if that statement was directed at me. (Because of post I wrote and it was quoted). And I would not object to anyone who feels the FN pledge is not for them. My point was more that I felt a calling to nursing and thanks for that acknowledgement. Sorry if I offended anyone.
I don't see my message referring or lumping all of you, if that statement was directed at me. (Because of post I wrote and it was quoted). And I would not object to anyone who feels the FN pledge is not for them. My point was more that I felt a calling to nursing and thanks for that acknowledgement. Sorry if I offended anyone.
No way, no how, was your post offensive. You were disagreeing with someone and I was disagreeing with you. I realize you were only speaking of yourself and weren't generalizing that all of us are "called".
There's room for us all in the nursing profession those called by a higher power to serve human kind and those of us who want to make a living but like people.
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I don't see my message referring or lumping all of you, if that statement was directed at me. (Because of post I wrote and it was quoted). And I would not object to anyone who feels the FN pledge is not for them. My point was more that I felt a calling to nursing and thanks for that acknowledgement. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Would you believe that I kind of fell into nursing? By that I mean, I was offered a years worth of free college plus $15 every two weeks for three years. Since my parents would allow me to remain in Southern California by myself, I jumped on it. I recited the pledge as well. And while I don't feel I was called to nursing like a nun, I tried to do my best to treat everyone fairly and equally, regardless of their economic background. And I did recite her pledge.
I can honor her as well, without making a pledge to her or someone elses God. In this very forum I distinctly remember defending her relavence to nursing practice and her contributions.
I'll hide behind the sofa now.
Good grief . . .come out from behind the sofa . . . . :sofahider
Specializes in acute, med/surg/ER/geri/CPR instructor.
We Had To Memorize It For Our Capping Ceremony And I Think Im The Only One Who Knew It, B/c My Voice Was The Only One You Could Hear The Rest Was A Mumble. I Graduated 13 Years Ago And My Classmates And I Still Laugh About That.
Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.
We didn't have to memorize it, but we did have to repeat it together in the form of wedding vows (a line spoken by the guest speaker RN, and repeated back by the class) at our pinning ceremony.
island40
328 Posts
Thank goodness I never heard this before! No way would I have said that! I am not a handmaiden and nursing is not a calling! Nuns are called. I work for a living.