Tag: history

Image credit: Dept of National Defence

For many years nurses have played a large part in the armed forces in Canada and abroad. The most famous being Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, where she trained and managed nurses and significantly reduced death rates by improving hygiene and living standards.

The modern armed forces have nurses as a vital part of the healthcare team, along with medics, surgeons, anaesthetists and other support services. Nursing Officers can be part of the Regular Force, or part of the Reserve Force. Most medical staff in the armed forces are Reservists, who can be mobilized to war zones or peace keeping missions to support the Regular medical staff.

Head over to the Legion Magazine website to read Sister Act, a story is about Canadian nurses in the First World War, who were stationed in hospitals or casualty clearing stations, which were nearer the front, often well within range of enemy fire.  Here's a snippet...........

Canadian Nursing Sister Anna Stamers of Saint John, N.B., bound for England aboard Metagama, pondered her fate across the ocean.

Having graduated from her local nursing school in 1913 before accumulating two years’ relevant work experience, the Maritimer appeared prepared for the challenge ahead that June 1915—at least on the surface.

The reality, as is so often the case with conflict—regardless of specific roles and duties seldom matched expectations.

Indeed, for Stamers and the 2,844 other nurses who served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) during the First World War, destiny brought many of the same horrors witnessed and experienced by soldiers on the front lines.

And like those soldiers, not every nurse would sail home.......... (continue reading on Legion Magazine)

Nurses and other medical professionals are part of all armed forces, the Navy, Air Force and Army. Although not in a combat role, they are crucial to the function and safety of the forces, and are still much valued armed forces veterans.