Nursing 108

N108: Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Role Study Guide of 172 The American Revolution All of the English colonies scattered along the Atlantic Coast of the United States were involved in the American Revolution. The army existed without the benefit of a medical corps or trained nurses. The nuns of the Catholic Church, who also cared for those who were ill with epidemic diseases like scarlet fever, dysentery, and smallpox, nursed wounded soldiers. Women who had followed their husbands into the battlefield often cared for soldiers. Homes and barns near the battlefield were used for hospitals. When the war ended, the usual type of poverty existed, and invalids and the disabled needed care. However, the colonies were not sufficiently developed to have such services available. In response, a new type of institution evolved, which is perhaps the forerunner of today’s clinic or hospital outpatient department. American Civil War The Civil War began in 1861 after the southern states attempted to secede from the Union. During that time, the military did not include an organized medical corp. Volunteers cared for the injured in the nearest barn or building. The Red Rover, a steamer ship, became the first floating hospital. The Catholic Sisters of Mercy served as nurses aboard the ship. Clara Barton volunteered in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment during the war to care for the injured. In 1882, Barton established the American Red Cross. Spanish-American War Begun in 1898, this war highlighted the need for military nurses. Many of those who died during the war died in camp of malaria, dysentery, and typhoid. As in previous wars, doctors objected to women nurses. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) set up an examining board to determine who was fit to serve as a military nurse. In 1901, the Army Nurse Corp was established and the Navy created its Nurse Corp in 1908. World War I During the years of 1914-1918, WWI created a greater need for military nurses. This led to the acceptance of minorities andmen as nurses. A training course for nurses was established at the Vassar Training Camp. The nurses who finished the training later finished a course at their home schools. This helped to move nursing education to an academic setting. Annie Goodrich suggested an Army School of Nursing based on standard curriculum for schools of nursing. She became the first dean of the school. Goodrich also established duty hours for students of only six to eight hours. World War II Fought from 1941-1945, WWII saw many significant improvements in the field of nursing. For the first time, the Cadet Nurse Corps received public funding for nursing education. Schools of nursing for minorities were funded as well. Education time was reduced from 36 months to 30 months. Inactive nurses were recruited back to nursing. Older and/or married women were allowed to serve as nurses. A shortage of nurses was solved by training volunteer nurse aides. After WWII, Nurse Officers received full commissioned rank. This resulted in more power and more pay for them. ©2018 Achieve Page 10