When you take a visit to the doctor’s, what do you notice? You often see diligent nurses walking around, collecting information or tending to patients. How did nursing become such a respected and honorable job? What allowed them to take advantage of opportunity and make an impact on patients everywhere? The answer lies in Clara Barton, the “battlefield angel” who not only advanced nursing and charity work, but also gave women and nurses a newfound respect which will carry over for years to come. During 1861, when the Civil War began, rivalries between the north and south were already vicious, which meant the war would only bring out tons of bloodshed. The already intensified battle for or against states rights, expansion, and slavery hit its …show more content…
Barton exemplified courage and determination by doing this, as it was no easy task. She writes in a journal, “People talk like children about ‘transporting supplies’ as if it were the easiest thing imaginable to transport supplies by wagon thirty miles across a country scouted by guerrilla bands” (Hillstrom and Hillstrom 6). Through this short passage, Clara Barton identifies that bringing medical care to the field was not a simple task, indirectly glorifying her work even more and proving it an arduous task. This new idea of direct relief on the battlefield was a huge change in medical care and was exactly what soldiers needed. They would not have to wait to travel to a care center or hospital, likely not making it, to receive care. Now, there was a huge increase in the chances of soldiers surviving an injury because it was treated on the spot. This provided global and future implications as so many more lives would be spared and eventually only more advancements in this medical technique would develop. A surgeon from the Union could testify first-hand to Barton’s heroic deeds: “I thought that night if heaven ever sent out a homely angel, [Barton] must be one [since] her assistance was so timely” (Hillstrom and Hillstrom 7). The surgeon compares Barton to an angel that came to the rescue, which was exactly what this nurse was. Barton presented herself not only when injured soldiers needed her most, but also when the nation needed her the most, during the most deadly conflict of the nation. Clara Barton earned her nickname, the Battlefield Angel from her timely arrival on the battlefield and quick relief she provided for those injured in war, inspiring many other leaders in the medical field to do the same. Today, most everyone is able to recognize Clara Barton by her nickname, illustrating that her timely and
When Clara’s father died, she felt the need to go even further than the local Washington infirmary. It was time for her to travel to the
Dr. Oscar Reiss’s, M.D., Medicine and the American Revolution is a complete history of revolutionary medical practices, medical leadership, and common diseases that plagued the army. Additionally, Reiss included medical evaluations on the leaders of each side, to give the reader further insight into the medical side of war. With nine times as many people dying from disease than from fighting, medicine played a key role in the American Revolution Reiss, a World War II veteran, is familiar with the tactical side of warfare. However, in his writing, Reiss examines war from a physician’s perspective, looking at how diseases and medicine impacted the war.
Having the opportunity to discuss the impact of medical research performed on Henrietta Lacks’ cells with doctor George Guy would be an experience like no other. Through the use of Henrietta Lacks’s cells, George Guy created an industry that would fuel research throughout the scientific community. When Henrietta Lacks was admitted to the hospital for radiation treatments, doctors took samples of her cervical cancer cells. Henrietta was not informed that one of the two samples was sent to George Guy, a scientist researching the immortalization of human cells. Guy soon realized that these cells were able to grow outside of the human body, they even grew rapidly.
She read to them, wrote letter for them, listened to their personal problems and prayed with them. However, she knew that where she was needed was not behind the lines but on the battlefield itself.
The role nurses played during the Civil War was truly an extensive one, as the war carried the most casualties in American history and so many more injuries. Despite their invaluable work, though, their experiences have not been related in depth. Civil War Nurse: The Diary and Letters of Hannah Ropes by Joseph Brumgardt is a much-desired addition to the primary collection depicting the story of the United States medical corps during the Civil War. The book’s thesis claims that these men and women who served in the medical end of the conflict deserve attention as full participants in the war rather than as mere helpers of the main actors, more interesting than substantial. As evidence of this, the book focuses on the story of Hannah Ropes, who
Barton is said to have prayed for strength to meet the “terrible duties” ahead. During this battle, Clara Barton worked very close to the battlefield. While treated a soldier, a bullet once tore through her sleeve and killed the soldier she was aiding.2 She rarely left the hospital tents, to which, day and night, came a
Dr. Mary Walker was not well liked in the field because she would frequently avoid amputating limbs of soldiers when she saw it unnecessary. She advocated for the patients and wrote, “I considered that I had a higher duty [to patients] than came under the head of medical etiquette” (Irizarry 9). Only years after did she receive praise for stopping amputations. Neighbors of Dr. Walker recall many soldiers visiting and expressing their gratitude for her work in the field (Irizarry
Not afraid of hard work, Clara Barton helped who were in need. Men showed her respect on the field, going to the extent of saluting her as they would a high-ranking general. Barton’s maternal and individualized care helped make her famous, popular, and respected. In an act of respect, Brigade Surgeon James L. Dunn gave Barton her well-known sobriquet, Angel of the Battlefield. This name showed that women could help with the war effort, and deserved equal respect and recognition as men in battle.
“Red Cross officials in Switzerland were inspired by her leadership abilities for including this country in the Global Red Cross network and for influencing the United States government to sign the General Treaty”. The Red Flag flew officially for the first time in this country in 1881. So as you can see Clara Barton has a lot of accomplishments and Clara knows that she will have a bright future, and she is sure on what she really want to do, and that is to cure people. When Clara visited Europe in search of rest in 1869, she got introduced to a much larger field of service through Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland know as “The International Red Cross”. Clara Barton founded national First Aid Society after her resignation from the American Red Cross.
Dorothea Dix played a huge role in acquiring equal rights for the mentally ill in the 1800s. In this time, the mentally ill had little to no rights. There wasn’t care and support available to them, and instead they were thrown in prisons. Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Maine. She was the oldest of three children, and raised her younger siblings.
In 1862, she left to work in the field hospitals. Clara brought wagons of much needed supplies with her. She continued helping in the midst of the war, and came close to death many times. Once, while she was helping an injured soldier, she “felt her sleeve move—a bullet had gone through it and killed the man she was tending” (@HistoryNet). On March 11, 1865, Clara was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to help search for missing soldiers.
She was the very first volunteer to arrive at the Washington Infirmary. She worked in the infirmary until her father died in 1861, after that, she decided to go to the soldiers near the battle fields because it was hard to bring them to the infirmary. She worked very close to the battlefield, therefore, she barely escaped death many times. One of her famous quotes is “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them,” which shows how Clara Barton would risk her life to help a soldier, who fights for her freedom. One time, while she was nursing a soldier, a bullet brushed her sleeve and killed the soldier she was nursing.
Even though she was no longer the president of the American Red Cross, Clara still offered her service until she passed away on April 12, 1912. Today, Clara Barton is still considered a hero for all of her service throughout the Civil War and afterwards. Her work is still admired various people and organizations throughout the world. Even though she is not alive today, her life’s work of service is still shown through the American Red Cross and through any organization helping people who are in need during a time of crisis. Because of all Clara Barton’s accomplishments and service, she is one of my heros and I nominate her to
It is a tremendous honor to accept the Outstanding Investigative Journalism Award on behalf of Ida B. Wells. And to think her journey all started on one train trip. When Ida was in her early twenties, she was taking a train and seated in the ladies car. Despite the 1875 Civil Rights Act, she was then asked by the conductor of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company to give her seat to a white man, and to sit in the ‘Jim Crow’, or black, car. She declined saying that the car ahead was a smoking one and she was in the ladies, and proposed to stay where she was.
Nursing Theory Ahidjo Nfor Professor: Sabrina Cook Professional Role Transition During graduations and pinning ceremonies, most students recite the Nightingale pledge. Florence Nightingale is consider to be the pillar of modern nursing. She is recognized as one who revolutionized the profession of nursing by defining the practice as it was conceived in her era in opposition to professions such as caregivers and house servants. in her book, Notes on Nursing: What it is, What it is Not, Florence Nightingale pioneered the idea of health and illness, how the environment could affect patient’s health and the difference between nurse’s practice and that of a physician. Florence Nightingale Theory in essence encompassed most