Civil War Nurse Essay

Words: 1412
Pages: 6

Nursing has always been viewed as a woman’s role since time began. During the Civil War women were considered to be dainty and if one offered their services to be a nurse, they were accused of lacking respectability and morals. However, during the Civil War women were forced to become the bread winners and caretakers due to the men being temporarily or permanently lost from their lives. Women became more than just housewives, they became wage earners, active contributors to the war effort, and political participants. These wars brought about nursing leaders whose sole purpose was to take care of the wounded and sick. It created notable women who fought tooth and nail for a cause they believed in. It created woman like Clara Barton, the founder …show more content…
She replenished supplies for the surgeons when their supplies ran out. In August of 1862 she was at Fairfax Station after the second Battle of Bull Run. At this battle, she actually worked as a nurse taking care of the wounded and not just replenishing supplies. In September of 1862 she was at the battle of Anietam. Here she experienced the heart of what soldiers endure during battle. She displayed heroic behavior . . . “at risk for her own life, frequently under fire, going where she was needed, helping with her heart, her hands and her supplies” (Evans, …show more content…
She was highly courageous, excellent organizational skills and a vision. She encountered bureaucratic resistance in anything that she did. She was relentless in providing what she thought was appropriate care to those in need. She fought heard with the government in being able to be where she needed to be and provide what needed to be provided. Unfortunately, because she was so independent, and wouldn’t ask for help from a man for something that she believed a woman was entitled to in the first place, this stopped her from being able to grow the Red Cross the way she wanted it