Very interesting article shared in the Community Health Nurses of BC Newsletter…this dissertation submitted by: Megan Kirk RN, BScN,MSc,PhD(c) toward her PhD. The whole newsletter in fact, made for interesting reading during Nurses week and Year of the Nurse. Thank you Ethel Warbinek for passing this along to share with those interested in Public Health History of Nursing!! Continue reading
A recent article published during Nurse’s Week, (Tri-City news May 14, 2020) celebrates Psychiatric Nursing. Andrea Tarnawsky Assistant Archivist for the City of Coquitlam Archives researched and wrote the online exhibit An Emerging Profession: Psychiatric Nursing at Essondale,1913-1973.
This well referenced, readable exhibit includes many photographs taken over the years and donated to the Coquitlam Archives by the Riverview Hospital Historical Society. Our member Anna Tremere was instrumental in collecting many artifacts from Riverview so that its story would not be forgotten.
Andrea tells us that they were hoping to have a physical exhibit in their archives space to go with the online, but this is on hold since the Coquitlam archives is currently closed due to COVID-19.
To view the online exhibit, go to http://www.coquitlam.ca/nursing
Monday May 11, 2020 marks the start of National Nursing Week in Canada.
The week, which began in 1971, is intended to draw attention to nurses in our health care system, and to recognize their hard work they do year-round.
Gloria Stephens, a former BCHNS member who left BC a few years back and established the Nova Scotia History of Nursing Group, sent the following message to Honourary Member Glennis Zilm and agreed to share it.
A MESSAGE from NURSING HISTORY NOVA SCOTIA SOCIETY: (NHNSS)
As nursing ‘history buffs’, we have studied our forebearers and give thanks and praise for these pioneering nurses who, under difficult situations and struggles, developed our solid foundation on which we so proudly stand today.
The theme for National Nurses Week: ‘A Voice to Lead: Nursing the World to Health’ is so true of the past but in this extreme health crisis of today, the words have a greater impact on the public at large and all nurses within the ‘health team’ must feel so proud, as they should.
Speaking for all members of NHNSS: ‘Hats off’ to those nurses working on the front lines who have demonstrated exceptional courage, commitment, compassion and leadership as they perform their ‘Duty of Care’.
To you, the retired members of NHNSS, you also deserve a bow and thanks for all the many hours and sacrifices that you gave for the benefit of those under you care for which you were responsible for their return to health or the provision that you made for their peaceful and dignified passing.
Quote from Florence Nightingale whose 200 Birthday is May 12: “Nursing is a progressive art in which to stand still is to have gone back. Progress can never end but with a nurse’s life”.
Bless you all and toast yourselves every day this week and always!! Gloria
It is with great sadness we post the passing of Maxine Bredt who turned 100 years on September 21, 2019. For more information click here: https://montrealgazette.remembering.ca/obituary/maxine-bredt-1079000871
The HMHS Llandovery Castle was one of five Canadian military hospital ships during the First World War. It was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on June 27, 1918. Of the 234 people who died, 14 were Canadian nurses.
The story of the nurses who died aboard that boat is told in a world premiere opera performed at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo in March 2020.
To learn more about the making of the opera click here: Opera Tells the story of HMHS Llandovery Castle
You can also view the production on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/zV3RDHrgkBA
We salute our health professionals during this crisis, especially our nurses. We also hope that you and yours are well.
We’re calling for news for the CAHN-ACHN Spring 2020 newsletter. Our theme for this issue is frontline nurses in epidemics, which seems fitting for these times. If you have an idea for an article or story about this epidemic or a previous one, please pitch it to us or send us the article/story. Photos are also very welcome.
We’re also asking for conference news. If you were at Florence 2020 or in Brazil, we’d like to hear about your experiences. And we’ll also be posting news about conferences that have been postponed, so if you’ve had to postpone a conference you’ve organized, please let us know.
If you’ve published a new book or article, or know of one that’s of interest to our readers, please send us that info, too. And if you’ve reviewed a new book, perhaps you could shorten your review and send it to us.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 20th, 2020. Submissions are welcome in French or English.
Andrea McKenzie, Communications Manager
Noreen Bolton, Newsletter Editor
Lynette Harper, a niece of Dr. Helen Mussallem, recently contacted us to let us know that one of her aunt’s WW2 nursing uniforms was on display at the Maple Ridge Museum and Community Archives.
The Museum’s curator (Shea Henry) shared pictures of the displayed uniform and the accompanying mini biography.
Dr. Mussallem is Canada’s most decorated and beloved nursing leader who had a special place in her heart for the history of nursing. She is one of our esteemed Honourary Members and supported the BC History of Nursing Society since its inception.
Hot off the press today: Feb 29, 2020
This Week in History: Royal BC Museum receives an incredible donation from Royal Jubilee Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae.
Spotted by one of the RJH alumni members, this news-worthy item was passed on to us to share with our members.
Gloria Stephens, a former BCHNS member left BC a few years back and established the Nova Scotia History of Nursing Group. She was recently interviewed by the CBC Atlantic News that featured the group’s archives located at the former Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing in Halifax. Good job Gloria!!!
To see the interview go to https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/victorial-general-school-of-nursing-alumni-keeping-the-memory-alive-1.5477444
The 23rd United Kingdom Association for the History of Nursing Research Colloquium will be held on Tuesday 30th June 2020 at the Friends Meeting House in Chichester. The deadline for submission of papers has been extended until Easter Monday (April 13) 2020. For further information go to http://ukahn.org/wp/ukahn-colloquium-2020