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The new, young ones are coming up. Just got the news today about a neat old nurse who died suddenly. We always kept in touch, our paths crossed in life on a medical unit years ago.
She went to nursing school when it was run by the nuns. I always liked looking for her picture in the old building. Now a for profit owns the hospital, healthcare isn't what it used to be.
She was a strong, vital, kind, hard-working woman, wholesome and dependable.
The world is changing. Some changes are okay, but a lot has been lost to us, never to be regained. A bit of valiant, strong goodness died this week.
It's up to the younger men and women to keep these values alive now.
I'm sorry for your loss but times indeed changed and nurses are no longer the folks who does everyone's b work. We are highly trained, well educated advanced professionals many of whom in hospital leadership positions or running independent practices. Yes it's unfortunate that we don't have a tradition of wearing the uniform and cap but you better believe it that I'm glad we've progressed passed that point. Granted I'm a dude so that's another benefit.
I think you missed the point. This is about honouring venerable role models who provided great nursing and mentoring in their time. Their program of study might have been very different from today, but no less rigorous.
The honour guard with the uniforms and caps serves a ceremonial function; no one is advocating we go back to that as a regular uniform.
She intimated that at her funeral she wants to hold her cap in her hands and have her cape on display. I got a bit misty eyed at that.
At my great-aunt's visitation, they put her framed nursing school graduation portrait on her casket. (She had worked in rural community health until age 76!) It was lovely.
sarlou
22 Posts
MUCH has been lost.....