Rward The Legacy Nursing History 100718 PDF

Preview

Summary

Weekly Module Assignments
...

Description

1

Legacy of Florence Blanchfield

The Legacy of Nursing History - The Florence Aby Blanchfield Story Rebecca Ward Rasmussen College of Nursing

2

Legacy of Florence Blanchfield

There have been many influential nurses throughout the history of the United States of America. So many have made different contributions at different times throughout this countries history that have made everlasting impacts on the society of nursing. Today I am going to take a look at one particular influential nurse, Florence Aby Blanchfield, who played a major role during a very important and controversial time of Americas history. I’d like to look back at some of her major accomplishments and how her role as a nurse contributed to today’s nursing society. As well as some of the major social issues that were occurring in our country at that time and how she was able to overcome and work around these challenges. Florence Aby Blanchfield was born in 1882 in a small town in West Virginia. She had seven other brothers and sisters she grew up with. Her goal had always been to become a nurse. She was able to accomplish that goal in 1906, when she graduated from Southside Hospital Training School for Nurses in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the early 1900’s America was going through a lot of changes and dealing with many social issues and events. Just between 1900-1940 America was dealing with women’s suffrage, the Great Depression, prohibition, trade unions, Wall Street crash, multiple presidential elections and the beginning of a World War. As one can see it was a very crazy time to be alive and to be able to make a difference in the lives of others. Blanchfield made countless contributions and a major difference in the nursing industry during both World War I and World War II. In the year of 1917 Blanchfield left for France after joining the Army Nurse Corps where she later became and served as acting chief nurse of Camp Hospital #15. She continued her role as an active military nurse and grew in rank through out her life which allowed her to make significant changes for the nursing industry and make a difference that helped us get where we are today.

3

Legacy of Florence Blanchfield Blanchfield made some major changes in World War II, after she was made superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps in 1943, there was a huge and critical need for nurses at this time. She was able to expand nurses throughout the corps from around 1,000 to an unbelievable amount of forces of 57,000 nurses. That led her to later be awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945 that honored her contributions and devotion she had for the nursing society. This was a step in the right direction for the nursing society today because it is what began some of the foundation that makes nursing such a respected and compassionate career path for many. It is what allows nurses to be such a trusted and integrity based part of the world we live in today. Another major way Blanchfield was able to make her contributions to the nursing society was her fight for equality and rights for their position. Despite her ever growing ranks in her time spent in the military that went from superintendent to eventually becoming lieutenant colonel in 1942, she as well as other nurses were denied pay, privileges, and rights that male commissioned officers were not. She was not going to stand for this inequality and unfairness and that caused her to struggle reaching full military ranks for the nursing society. Her efforts did eventually make a difference when she was able to persuade Army Nurse Corps to authorize equal pay and privileges for commission nurses of the Army-Navy Nurse Act. General Dwight D. Eisenhower commissioned Florence Aby Blanchfield as a lieuteant colonel in the regular army in July of 1947, a huge step for the nursing society. These accomplishments by Blanchfield helped the career path of nursing grow respect in today’s modern world. Her acts and standing up to fight the inequality of all the hard work that was put in to be a nurse at this time was crucial and may still be an issue today if she didn’t take a stand for us at that time.

4

Legacy of Florence Blanchfield Florence Aby Blanchfield made so many accomplishments to the nursing society within the United States of America. She made such an impact on society as a whole as well as impacting so many lives with her selfless caregiving as a nurse during the time she served. It is amazing the lengths she went to to fight for her homeland and expertise of the nursing career. It is no wonder she is such an influential person to Americas history and her fight and strength during such a crucial time will always be remembered.

5

Legacy of Florence Blanchfield References ANA. (2018). Inductees Listed Alphabetically. [online] Available at: https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/history/hall-of-fame/inductees-listed-alphabetically/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2018]....