One of the most famous nurses in history, Florence Nightingale, summed it up in the mid 1800s when she said, "Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear or surprise do a patient more harms than any exertion."
Nurses Appreciation Week ended on Wednesday. Since my mother was a nurse and later in her life taught in a school of nursing, naturally, I found myself thinking of her.
I believe being a nurse is a calling. Nurses know they want to be a nurse at different stages of their lives. Ann Denney Benzel knew as a child that she wanted to be a nurse. As a teen, she volunteered at the local hospital to be a candy striper.
For my mother it was a second career. First she got her teaching degree. After a brief teaching career she decided that was not for her. Right away, she enrolled in nursing school.
As a child, I liked to watch her getting ready for work. She wore white from head to toe- white uniform, white stockings and white shoes. The only thing that was not totally white was her cap. It had a black band signifying the college of nursing where she got her degree. I was so proud of her.
At the same time, it was probably because she was a nurse that I had excellent attendance at school. In those days, my mom seemed to think penicillin was supposed to be good for whatever ailed you. As sure as I stayed home sick, she would come home from work at lunch with a shot of penicillin aimed for my rear. Getting a shot was not one of my favorite things.
A few days ago I was at Sosebee Funeral Home in Canton. As you may know, Norman Sosebee has his huge collection of pictures and military relics displayed there. Many, if not most, are from World War II. There was something new in one of the display cases.
Retired Probate Court Judge Kip McVay has added to the collection. Her mother, Hilda Luthi McVay was a nurse and served in WWII. Her military cape is on display, as is her nursing cap.
She was in the Army Air Corps. Kip explains that at that time there was not an air force as we know it now. The United States Air Force was not established as a separate branch until 1947.
The nursing profession continued in the McVay family. Frank, the son of Hilda and Birch McVay, is a nurse. So is his wife Roberta.
Another Cherokee County family of nurses is that of Betty Carpenter Callahan. She was the Director of Nurses at R. T. Jones Hospital. Her mother, Winnie Moore Carpenter was a nurse. Another nurse in the family was Edna Moore Smith. She was the first nurse in Cherokee County.
Seeing Hilda McVay's military cape and cap in the display at Sosebee's reminded me of Minnie Carr. She and my mother were friends when they were in nursing school. During World War II Minnie was in the navy. Women in the navy at that time were called WAVES. After the war ended, she stayed with us for several days. When she arrived, she was wearing a military cape and cap. I must have been about six years old and I was awed by her.
My mom would send my sister, brother and me to play so she and Minnie could talk. We did now know what they were talking about, but we knew it was something serious. Years later my Aunt Louise told me that Minnie had come to see us soon after she had been released as a prisoner of war in the Philippines.
Without a doubt, one of the best known nurses is in the photo "War's End Kiss." We have heard repeatedly, "A picture is worth a thousand words." It was never truer than in the picture taken of a young sailor who swept a nurse up in his arms, leaned her back and planted a big kiss on her in Times Square in New York City. The two had never met. He was jubilant because he had just heard World War II had ended. That picture captured the emotions of the American people.
When the picture was first printed, the participants were not identified. Although several have claimed to be the sailor and the nurse. It is now accepted that they were Glenn McDuffie and Edith Shain.
There are many nurses in our midst who deserve our appreciation. And although we are two days late, let us give thanks for those who have served us in the past and serve us now. To name just a few- Kathy Yarbrough, Staci Mock, Joan Anderson, Lynne Rollins, Rita Anderson, Gwen Chambers, Lucy Yarbrough, Ozella Tanner, Nina Burtz, Melba Coker, Linda Groves, Kay Miller, Nancy Stackhouse and Brooke Warren Skellie.
Nursing is a noble profession. Nurses have played an important role in our history and our own lives. As stated in the Florence Nightingale Pledge, with loyalty nurses aid doctors in their work and devote themselves to the welfare of those in their care.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Marguerite Cline is the former mayor of Waleska.
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