The History of American Nursing: Part One

I love this class! Oh sure it is a ton of writing, and reading, and posting things to the online classroom, but I do really do like what I am learning! Who knew there was more to my professional nursing history than just Florence (my idol) Nightingale, Clara Barton, Dorthea Dix, and everyone’s favorite girl, Cherry Ames! The myths of history are being whacked at one by one. I had no idea that male nurses go way back, I mean way back! And male midwives existed before females midwives really got started!

My mentor is a lovely woman from Washington State and the only one who ever even bothered to encourage phone calls to her!! It’s nice placing a voice to a person to a name! (If you get my drift).

My class essay or research project (so to speak) will focus on how home births went to hospital births and what impact this change made on early American nursing school curriculums. I know, dry for some, but I am finding the preliminary stuff kind of neat to read about. So that’s where I am at, for now. In case you were dying to know. =)

School Days...Vacation is Over

As many of you know, I have been working on my Masters in Nursing for a while, and as of tomorrow, I am back at it again. I took a break (well deserved), and then another break, and now I have to get back on the horse and get it done. While I am looking forward to obtaining this long sought out goal, I truly dread taking the classes to get there. My head wants to rest. It does not want to think about writing long papers and organizing references. I’m feeling old and tired, and really just want to spend time reading novels and not text books, but...

I’m grateful I have the support system I do at home. Jim is done with his Masters (YIPEEEE!!), but is a constant source of “Go Wendy Go!” for me. As are the kids. It helps knowing I have that support. It’s motivating (and at my age, some days, I need it).

So if it seems time lags between my blog posts, it’s no doubt because I am hard at work doing school requirements (The History of American Nursing) and will, when time allows, share what’s going on with me when I can. So keep checking back, and often!

The Nursing Shortage: My Concerns, Your Concerns

I do not usually write much about my job as a nurse, but in light that it is an election year and our country is facing a severe nursing shortage, you will have to bear with me for the next few paragraphs. I feel I have to voice my concerns, not only as a nurse, but as a person who is aging and a person who one day might need a nurse in her very old age at her hospital bedside. (Side note: I expect to be a crabby patient).

First of all some unsettling and even frightening statistics: (at least they are for me)

Recent nursing stats from the U.S Dept. of Labor:
* Nationwide working nurses : 2.5 million
* Average age of nurses : 47 years
* Expected nursing shortage nationwide by 2020 : 36%
*116,000 Number of nurses needed immediately at community hospitals and clinics nationwide.
*23% Anticipated job growth in the nursing field over the next decade, making registered nursing the fastest-growing career in the nation.

Most of my peers within my own nursing department are in their 50’s. Most are anticipating retirement within a few years. Some will hang until they are in their 60’s, like me, although I do not see myself at the bedside. Many of them do not either.

There seem to be no solutions coming from Obama, Clinton, or McCain, let alone any politician. In fact, McCain at a primary rally at a NJ hospital openly admitted he had no idea a nursing shortage even existed in our country!! The one politician who has spoken out about health care, Ted Kennedy, is on the receiving end of health care now after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Perhaps he might help even further upon getting out of the hospital, although he might just be too busy going through cancer treatment. I hope there is not a nursing shortage that day.

One of the problems that does is exist is that we have an over abundance of people wanting to go into nursing, but a very limited amount of nursing programs and nurses willing to teach those students enrolled in programs. Why? Salaries. It all comes back to the dollar. Universities are not willing to pay enough, especially to those who do not have their doctorate to teach. I’m working on my Masters in Nursing Education with the hopes to teach, but sadly my pitiful MSN will not allow me to teach nurses at institutions that offer higher levels of education to nurses. And I have very little desire at this time to pursue my doctorate. It stinks. It makes no sense. (My being allowed to teach, not my wanting to get my doctorate). So I can offer myself to lower educational programs, and will. (For a decent wage, that is).

Until things change and we get our politicians on board, little money is being put back in nursing to ensure its future. So here’s what I am asking you to do. Write your politicians and make sure they are aware there is a nursing shortage and get them on board with helping to put funds back into schools that will “pump out nurses.” One day you are going to wish you had a very well educated and not so tired nurse at your bedside. Trust me.

Sorry for the length of the blog. It could have been even longer! This is an issue that is very dear to me. The video helps to explain the issue....

Positive Life / Career Influence

“When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother what should I be...?” Okay, so I am not Doris Day, but the conversation did take place, and at the time, my mother strongly urged me to become a nurse. The dialogue went something like this:

Me: I think I might want to be like Aunt Lorraine.
Mom: You mean a nurse?
Me: Yes. I like watching her do things at work. (This was something I got to do often as a kid...more later on this)
Mom: Well it is a highly respected profession. It’s got better potential and so much more respect than a secretary or teacher get at their jobs.
Me: Then that’s what I will do.

Over the years I have joked with my mom that those girls who became those ‘nonrespected’ secretaries get to have pretty clothes, better pay, one hour lunches, and they never have to clean up crap (literally). And there are a great many times I have to seek out that respect factor (especially from the doctors). But the truth is, I love what I do. Nursing is in my blood, and very much a part of who I am.

My Aunt Lorraine was an incredible nurse. She was the kind of nurse who held her patient's hands, placed a cool cloth to the forehead, and continually sought to ensure her patients were well cared for, and always comfortable, even those in pain. I can remember visiting relatives as a kid when they were in the hospital, and at the time, it seemed like Aunt Lorraine worked on every unit! I’m sure my memory is fuzzy, but I got to see her in action a great many times, and it was through these times, my desire to become a nurse grew. Her white uniform was always pressed and her nursing cap looked like a little upside-down muffin wrapper. Her smile was contagious and I can still hear her laugh. She was the nurse I wanted to become.

There have been some many times in my nursing career that I wanted to throw in the cap and trade in my uniform (or scrubs) for a more respectable job. But every time I felt this feeling, this urge to quit, my thoughts would turn to my Aunt Lorraine. There have been so many times that I have truly felt her presence in my life, guiding me through my career, as well as the rough times I have had as a nurse (and there have been so many).

I believe that she has been such a positive influence in my life, and nursing career, and I am forever grateful. I only hope that I am the kind of nurse she was, and one that she would want me to be.

“Infants emerge into the world with the help of a nurse's gentle touch. A newborn baby reaches out to her nurse in an instance of this early, reassuring contact across the borders of the human body, personal identity, and generations of time.” (unknown)

Back to School...

The break was nice while it lasted, but it's over and it is time to head towards the next goal...obtaining my Masters in Nursing Education. I'm hopeful the goal will be well worth this long haul. I'm only taking two classes over the next 12 weeks, but after reading the course syllabuses for both classes, I will definitely be very busy and buried in research again! The two classes are as follows: The History of Nursing and Nursing Conflicts. The second seems as if it will be like bringing work home. The first a more enjoyable class. We'll see.

The only good thing about being so busy...less time to think about missing Caitie. Oh who am I kidding?