To be a Flight Nurse in 1945

I recently read a book published in 1945 - Title: Cherry Aimes FLIGHT NURSE, author Hellen Wells. I have since discovered that there is a whole Cherry Aimes series which starts from Cherry Aimes STUDENT NURSE and follows through a whole series that includes, ARMY NURSE, CRUISE NURSE, MOUNTAINEER NURSE, NIGHT SUPERVISOR, etc.

What entrigued me was the introduction to this book. I quote "It is every girl's ambition at one time or another to wear the crisp white uniform of a nurse. The many opportunities for service, for adventure.... make a nurse's career a glamorous one...."

After picking myself off the floor from rolling around with laughter, I came to consider how sad it is that the image of nursing has changed so much! The book is a story that is full of praise for this adventurous and skilled flight nurse, working in the second world war. To have a nurse on board meant the patients would be cared for in the best possible way (with challenges we could never imagine), and the community, patients, pilots and surgeons would not have it any other way.

Yes it is only a novel, but I am sharing this with you as claerly nurses where respected and valued for their contribution to society and it is sad to say that this is not always the case today. Although young ladies and gentlemen now  have the choice of a multitude of careers (and rightly so), we who are nursing must strive be examples in our communities so that nursing can once again be a profession that is admired and respected.

Let us know how you as Emergency Nurses are making a difference in your patients and communities lives. I am sure there are some heroes and heroines out there!


Keep the flag flying high
Gayle Heydenrych

Regional ENSSA meetings

Regional meetings of ENSSA are going to be held in various parts of the country....please spread the word and attend!