Mercy Health Love County - News

Nursing as Profession Dates to Wartime Sisters

Posted on Friday, April 4th, 2014

Professional nursing grew from religious and military origins. In 1800s Europe and the United States, armies in combat looked to nuns as the most experienced health care providers.
 
A painting commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln depicts a Sister of Mercy tending a Union soldier in a tent hospital.
 
The first professional training school for nurses in the U.S. opened following the Civil War, in 1873.
 
By the 20th century, nursing had come to be regarded as a distinct profession and discipline.
 
Nurses -- and the Sisters of Mercy -- are highly respected and extremely important in serving the health needs of the nation.
 

Tiffany Copeland, CNA. The 2008
graduate of Marietta High School joined
the hospital as a Certified Nurse's Aide
in 2013, after four years in an eye clinic.
Always determined to become a nurse,
she plans to enroll in the LPN program
of Southern Oklahoma Technology
Center in August..
 
  
Danny Dvorak, RN (left) Also holds bachelor and master degrees. Received
Thelma Biddler Award as outstanding nursing student of Murray State College
in 2009. But nursing is a second career, following 30 years in juvenile and
child welfare services for state and private agencies. Joined the hospital in
2011 in quality assurance for patients, nursing department continuing
education, and employee wellness.
 
Nikki Barker, RN (right) The emergency room RN and certified trauma nurse
loves learning. She is now taking advanced classes, mainly in emergency and
disaster response, after completing associate and bachelor degrees, the latter
in nursing from East Central University in 2013. Worked full time as hospital
CNA and ER technician while in college.