Kathy Waldron, Ellen Wolff and Marcia Hansen

In the late 1890’s, a book entitled Ambulance Work and Nursing—A Handbook on First Aid to the Injured with a Section on Nursing, Etc. detailed a nurse’s qualifications.

It read, “The best type of nursing girl is one who is tall and strong, and who has a certain suppleness of movement. One who is accustomed to play lawn-tennis, who can ride, and skate, and row, makes the best material. If she can dance, especially if she is an enthusiastic dancer, it is a great advantage, for graceful carriage is a thing to be cultivated, and nothing is more distasteful in a sick-room than a suspicion of clumsiness.”

It is safe to say that lawn tennis and enthusiastic dancing play little role in the hiring process for nurses today.

Qualifications for today’s nurses include extensive education, medical knowledge, and the ability to think and act independently. “Nursing girls” have been replaced by “nurses,” and there is a growing population of male nurses in this country. Technological advances have created a need for unprecedented technical knowledge, and medical equipment is evolving every day. In a time at which managed care is driving the less-acutely ill patients out of the hospital setting, nurses today are dealing with a high proportion of acutely ill patients—they are the front line in caring for the sick and injured in our nation.

It would be an understatement to say that the last century has seen some change in the field of nursing—but that change is not what it appears to be on the surface. You see, the nurses of 100 years ago, and the nurses you will find caring for patients today have a lot in common. Since the profession of nursing began, nurses have been that front line in caring for the sick and injured. They have been knowledgeable, intelligent, and willing and able to act independently. Today, nursing is called the “head, hands, and heart” career. And that was true a century ago.

The change that nursing has undergone over the years in this country and around the world is a change in perception. Gone are the days of nurses having to stand in the presence of a doctor, and gone are the starched aprons and hats. Today’s nurses are respected professionals, who are recognized for their vital role in the healthcare system. There is a diversity in nursing today that never existed before; there are opportunities for growth and education, and career opportunities in research, writing, and administration. You will find nurses working in countless settings in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and schools. Today, you will find nurses in the legislative forefront, leading the way to nationwide healthcare reform. There are nurses earning advanced degrees and working as ARNP’s, or CRNA’s. For today’s nurses, nursing is a profession and a passion.

But even with all of these growing opportunities, today’s nursing field faces a shortage, and this nation faces a crisis. As our Baby Boomer population hits retirement age, we can foresee a huge increase in the need for medical services over the coming years. The media is painting a frightening picture of how healthcare will be affected if the trend continues, and healthcare organizations are scrambling to attract and retain employees, while convincing the next generation of the merits of a career in nursing.

LRGHealthcare is involved in this effort. Recognizing that financial challenges are often the barrier to education for a healthcare career, LRGHealthcare created TuitionLink, a program that assists in paying tuition and related costs for students enrolled in clinical programs in exchange for a commitment of employment. We also offer GradLink, a program providing new nurses an opportunity to get their feet wet in a supportive setting. We provide staff with on-site educational and certification opportunities, and offer our nurses and other employees one of the most generous tuition reimbursement programs in the State.

Nursing has always been, and continues to be, one of the most honorable professions. Today, there are more professional opportunities and more reasons than ever before for those considering career options to consider a career in nursing. Nursing requires independent, critical thinking skills; years of education and skills training; and an attribute that can’t be taught—compassion.

The old adage, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” is true. In a starched apron and white hat or scrubs; armed with a mercury thermometer or an intravascular temperature monitor, nursing has always been the head, hands, and heart career.

And that is never going to change.

As we celebrate Nurses Week 2007, we thank all of the dedicated nurses who are caring for our community every day.

Kathy Waldron, RN, BSN is vice president of clinical services and chief nurse executive for LRGHealthcare. Ellen Wolff, RN, MS is vice president of patient care and surgical services for LRGHealthcare. Marcia Hansen, RN is vice president of patient care and laboratory services for LRGHealthcare.