The Value of High Ideals to the Professional Nurse
By Emma Dinesen
(Paper read at the opening exercises of the Nurses’ Training School, at the Florida Sanitarium, Orlando, Fla., Thursday evening, Nov. 16, 1916.) It matters not what profession or occupation or business a person may choose for his life work, if he does not have a mental conception of perfection, he will not reach the highest rung of the ladder of success. If the nurse does not enter the training school with a certain amount of enthusiasm, which daily grows more ardent, with greater zeal and love for the work, she would better consider well her calling to this profession. If it means nothing more to her than a life of drudgery, whereby she is able to collect a few dollars for her maintenance, she will find neither happiness nor success. Unwilling service, given only with thought of the financial compensation, will bring no thrill of joy. The nurse with high ideals is bound to succeed. She will not be untidy about her person, nor in the care of the sick-room or her patient. High ideals will help her in the matter of etiquette toward her patients, the doctor, and her associates in the world outside, as well as in her professional work. She will be clean in word and speech, not given to slang, or repeating vulgar stories to her patients, which is not uncommon with many nurses. Her professional work will prosper, for she will read and study, thus keeping abreast of the new methods and the progressive spirit of the age. Addison said, “What sculpture is to the block of marble, education is to the human soul.” If the nurse will, by much reading and study, endeavor to educate herself, not only in her profession, but in all lines wherever opportunity offers, she will become liberal in her views, with a deeper sympathy for all mankind. Her standard of perfection will not permit her to retrograde, but she will always be in the front ranks. She will not seek to escape hard work, but, health permitting, will always be ready for service wherever called. She will be a woman chaste and pure in all things, and although she may not become known to the world at large, she will be popular in her own little world; for some one has said, “No life can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife, and all life not be purer and stronger thereby.” On occasions like this, it is customary to recite the deeds of courage and heroism of the nurses who have won renown on the fields of battle. Their acts of devotion thrill our hearts. Just at this time, when Europe is passing through a great convulsion of conquest, it is of interest to remember that about sixty years ago Florence Nightingale organized the first nursing corps of women to go on the field of battle. By her wonderful genius and devotion, she glorified her sex and her calling. Another heroic figure in the history of nursing was Clara Barton. She was especially identified with the Red Cross Society, of which organization she was the first president. Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton will live forever in the grateful memory of the human family. They are heroic figures in the history of nursing, not only of the war periods, but also in the subsequent or scientific period of nursing. The luster about their names will never tarnish, but will endure as long as men and women are sick and need care. The first institution for training nurses was founded in Kaiserwerth, Germany, in 1836. In 1840 Mrs. Fry founded a school in London. The first school for nurses in America was established in Boston in 1877. The first school for medical missionary nurses was established in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1883. The first class had a course of only one year’s study. The regular two years’ course began in 1884, and the first class was graduated in 1886. Later, the school started a three years’ course. Since then schools have been started in different parts of this country, and also in foreign lands, where many noble young men and women have been trained to work for the sick and suffering. They not only give relief from pain and sickness, but by their beautiful Christian character and faithfulness to duty, they lead sin-sick souls to accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Though no worldly honor has been bestowed on them, we know that when Jesus comes to claim his own, those who have worked faithfully will receive their reward.20 More is expected of the nurse today than ever before. The laity are better educated than formerly; to some extent the outside world has raised the standard of nursing, and we as medical missionary nurses must not fall short of that standard. Therefore it is essential that from the beginning of our training we should form high ideals: first, that the name of our Master be not dishonored, and that our own success be assured; second, that the public may have greater faith in the professional nurse, and less chance to criticize her. Having chosen nursing for our vocation, we should give the best that is in us to those we serve, cheerfully and willingly. Let us follow the golden rule in daily conduct. If we do this, our life will, be not only useful, but happy; for happiness always follows right living, right thinking, and the faithful performance of duty.