So....life has been rough.....and getting this nursing degree has been hard.
I needed some inspiration, but wasn't sure where to find it. But the Universe does itself in funny ways....and it brought me a little sumpin' sumpin'....
I was doing my powerpoint presentation about the "The Image of Nursing". I quite like the subject so it has been fun to do.....
But I learned something about a nurse that I knew nothing of before my project.
I am just going to gloss over....but I encourage you to do your own research.
We all know about Florence Nightingale. Nursing is indebted to her for making it what it is today.
But did you know about Mary Seacole? I have a new hero.
Mary Seacole was born of a Scottish Officer and a Free black woman in Jamaica. Her mama was a 'doctoress' who treated folks arriving in the Caribbean who would acquire the Yellow Fever.
Later, she applied her self acquired nursing skills to a Cholera Epidemic in Panama and Yellow Fever at later time. She attempted to isolate the source and transmission of the disease.
Florence Nightingale had begun a School of Nursing in Britain, which was the first to teach nursing as a skill and vocation rather than teaching specific tasks to a woman to work in a specific hospital.
Mary Seacole applied and was denied despite her great skills.
The Crimean War broke out. Florence Nightgale offered their services to the British Army and was refused. When it was discovered that disease was killing more than the battlefield injuries.....she was permitted to bring 38 nurses and start a hospital to treat the sick. Again Mary Seacole, uniquely qualified for such a mission was denied agian by the British Army AND by Florence Nightingale.
So she borrowed money.....and left Jamaica to go to Turkey and meet with Florence Nightingale in person....to be denied yet again.
She began a 'Hotel' which was more of a restaurant that sold drinks and food to soldiers on the edge of the battlefield. The proceeds of which would go to support her nursing missions to men sick and injured on the battlefield.
Florence Nightingale in the meantime faced opposition from Military Officers and Physicians who disparaged her professionalism. She in turn, disparaged Mary Seacole saying that her hotel was little better than a brothel. So apparently nurse back biting and nurse on nurse ugliness has deep roots in history as well.
But both did well and exceeded in their methods of practice. We k
now that Florence introduced triage, opened windows, fresh air and hospital practice.
Mary Seacole took to wearing bright colors on the battlefield to distinguish herself and her helpers as medical personnel. Also she brought with her the training of how to deal with disease as well as trauma.
Florence Nightgale was remembered.....but where did Mary Seacole's legacy go?
I cannot say. I have my theories.
But this I know to be true....
She makes me proud to be a nurse and proud to be Scottish and more importantly be proud of who I am and what I will represent. I am no Florence Nightingale. I am not high class. I was not born well. I believe in her, but I seriously doubt she would have believed in me.
She makes me know that no matter how many people count you out....you just have to keep keeping on because no one ever got any further for giving up. She makes me know that to have a part in this thing called nursing that we have to be creative in our endeavours and be proud of our roots. All of them.
I think of how my whole class can relate to her and that is pretty exciting in itself. We being the ones that everyone counted out. We being the ones who fight to be there every day. We being the ones having to beg, borrow, and steal to get by. And if that is the least of our problems, compared to Mrs. Seacole's.......then we can move on ahead and not be counted out.
And heck.....maybe one day even be rediscovered, remembered.......and revered.
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Comments: 23
In all the 'movies' I've seen, it was not considered "ugliness."
Just sayin'.........
I'm glad you found your inspiration. : )
Another thing I learned about was St Vincent de Paul and his role in nursing. Maybe I will write about that too. It is about him....but more than him....it is also about the Daughters, Sisters, and Ladies of Charity and how they completely changed the idea of nursing and helping the poor and sick. Nursing at one time was the realm of prostitutes, drunken, and illiterate women. Nursing was marginalized....and that marginalization had a lot to do with King Henry the VIII if you can believe it.....
I am rambling non sensically.....but my rambles are fodder for future articles....
Did you know Walt Whitman was a nurse????
I am proud to be a going to be nurse....
I think you've been kind to Florence Nightingale, alternative historians suggest she killed more than she cured with her insistence that soldiers said their prayers.
Mary Seacole was a different character, she was more human and knew the healing properties of sympathy, compassion and rice pudding (the ultimate comfort food.)
Yes we do need to remember who wrote our history books and how much misinformation we were fed.
Not dissin Florence but Mary is more my type of woman. Nobody told her no and made it stick. No one could stop her from being a healer.
LaB - Like I told my real life daughter, I'm now telling you my Gather dear, never forget our foremothers, never forget when women ruled the world.
Continue to be a strong woman and someone who can succeed against all odds.
I'm proud as hell of you.
Blessings girl!
And Joy....I do believe so....
The following is from Wikipedia....not my favorite reference....but I am at "work" so it will do for now.....
"Florence Nightingale took against Seacole, although she did little to express her disapproval overtly. The British Hotel charged for its services, supplied alcohol, and was open to visiting tourists as well as soldiers, leading Nightingale to later accuse Seacole of running an establishment that was little better than a brothel. Some years later corresponding to her brother-in-law Sir Harry Verney in 1870 she wrote that Seacole "kept - I will not call it a 'bad house' - but something not very unlike it - in the Crimean War [...] She was very kind to the men &, what is more, to the Officers - & did some good - & made many drunk". Worse, a second letter went further, stating that Seacole was a "woman of bad character" who kept "a bad house" (meaning a brothel). Robinson considers this charge unfounded and based on Nightingale's belief in her social superiority. Indeed, Nightingale sent nurses to assist at the Land Transport Hospital, close to Seacole's Hotel's nursing establishment, and further letters record her efforts to avoid association between her nurses and Seacole"
When I was a little girl I remember loving to read and the first book that realllllly influenced me was "The Lorax". One line in particular that I never forgot is, "I speak for the trees!!"
All my life I will speak for the trees. I guess seems silly and women are not trees literally but somehow I think you know what I mean.
I cannot wait to tell you guys about St. Vincent dePaul and how I believe he saw the power that women had as a collective to 'get things done'. How it gave legitimacy to this thing we all nursing!! And how in a very small way....I am tied to that legacy.
I know lots of folks collect little nursey dolls and figurines. I collect Cherry Ames books. But now I kinda wish I had a Mary Seacole doll. Not necessary but I sure would like it. I imagine that she would have a face like that oil painting and a soft body to hug....like a baby beans or a rag doll.....the best kind.
It is almost like the Florence doll would be made of china and high above the shelf....untouchable....dusty....cold
But the Mary Doll would be lovable, huggable, touchable and comforting.
Guess what.....I have to go and do some nursing y'all. But I will check back. Thanks for listening to my excitement. Much appreciated. I am a little nursing nerd....but a happy nursing nerd.
Z'
excellent as always!
Lloyd