Ancient nursing symbols

[DrZaphod, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Hello all,

I have scoured the web and found nothing on ancient nursing symbols. We all know what the medical symbol looks like, but I was wondering if there is a specific symbol for our profession. An ancient one would be excellent. Thanks in advance for any help or information you all can give me, to point me in the right direction.

Thanks again,

Jay

[z's playa]

Define ancient. This is all I could find. :chuckle

[redraccoon, BSN, RN]

well considering that nursing as a "recognized" profession isn't all that relatively old... there may not be any "ancient" symbols.

my best guess would be to try specific ancient societies, ie Greek, and see if you can find anything within that

[DrZaphod, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Thanks. Yeah, I saw those. Even though it hasn't been a recognized profession, understanding history dictates that someone made a nursing symbol even long ago. Hrm. I guess I'll keep looking. Thanks, guys.

[fergus51]

You might try being more generalized and looking for women healers and their symbols. The only one I knew that was specific to nursing was the lamp of learning.

[danu3]

Try this site and contact them:

http://bnhbs.freeservers.com/index.htm

They may have something.

-Dan

[Gail-Anne]

Since nurses, prior to Florence Nightingale fighting for change, were considered somewhat lower than prostitutes (after all, they only carried slops, cleaned up and were even paid partly in alcohol in most hospitals in England) I don't know that there is a specific symbol before the lamp. Good idea to check for healer symbols though- maybe Celtic as well as Greek or Egyptian.

Thought I'd mention a modern symbol that I think is nice. Check out the Florence Nightingale Int. Foundation. Their symbol is a globe with the flame, a heart and hand.

[lindymarie]

Since nurses, prior to Florence Nightingale fighting for change, were considered somewhat lower than prostitutes (after all, they only carried slops, cleaned up and were even paid partly in alcohol in most hospitals in England) I don't know that there is a specific symbol before the lamp. Good idea to check for healer symbols though- maybe Celtic as well as Greek or Egyptian.

Thought I'd mention a modern symbol that I think is nice. Check out the Florence Nightingale Int. Foundation. Their symbol is a globe with the flame, a heart and hand.

If and when you do find an ancient symbol it will more than likely resemble : a haggard woman in a cap carring a bedpan with a sign that says kick me I'm a nurse.lol

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Think a little laterally. Nursing pre Nightingale was often the province of religious orders. Look to the Catholic Church and see what you can find - In particular St Johno f Jerusalem and the Knights Templar.

http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/oosj/otherord.htm

[::Goodie::, RN]

I think Saint Brigid is the patron saint of midwives, etc... I've seen a Nurse/Midwife with the cross of Saint Brigid tattooed on her wrist.

HTH

**Just noticed how old this thread is - bumping for an update, perhaps?

;-D

[DrZaphod, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Heh, cool thanks Goodie.

[RPN_2012]

I don't know if these are ancient, but very nice. But I would double check their meaning.

nurse

healing