Reflective Journal Week 10 - Nursing Across the Ages

 1. What I learned

From my group mates, I learned that they didn’t like to hire married nurses. I thought that was crazy! Also, I learned that they didn’t want you to get married during nursing school either. I also learned that nurses had many responsibilities and were super busy because of the war. Form my article, I learned that penicillin started to be used to treat infection. I also learned that nurses wore dresses and aprons in this time period. I wish we still did that! My article explains that there was a lot of devastation due to bombings inflicted by Germany. Also, the bombing on Pearl Harbor happened in 1941. All this caused nurses to be desperately needed. Higher starting salaries for nurses started. “Nursing was moving towards true career status, rather than being a vocation.” Assistant nurses gained recognition in 1943.  There was a shortage of nurses during the 40’s. This was also the year that penicillin had been recognized in treating infections. In 1949, the Nurses Act passed.

I also learned a lot from the movie review of an episode of Call the Midwife. I really like that show. This episode was about a woman with an unwanted pregnancy that got an abortion and then almost died from sepsis. I am glad we have so much availability to resources and conception is so cheap. We have so many resources for women, abortion should never be an option.

2. How I will apply what I learned to my nursing practice

The introduction to penicillin was great, but it was used a lot, and incorrectly. People wouldn’t finish their doses, and there arose antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Learning from this history, I will make sure to properly educate my patients on proper use of their antibiotic regimen. I also am glad I am in a position to educate women about their resources so they feel hope and don’t kill their babies. 

3.My personal feelings about this time period

I was very shocked to hear that they commonly didn’t hire nurses that were married. If they did this, surely they wouldn’t hire someone with children. I am glad I didn’t live in this time period, because I wouldn’t been kicked out of nursing school since I was married and I had a baby while in school. I’m glad I’m in the time period I’m in.