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A
nod to tradition |
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It often is said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In the case of Geri Rosato, MS, RN, one nurse’s form of retail therapy has become others’ treasure trove of history. A self-described "collectaholic," Rosato has distilled a lifetime of scouring flea markets and antique stores for sterling silver invalid feeders, Victorian bedpans and Cherry Ames mystery books into the American Museum of Nursing. Founded in 1993 in Glendale, Ariz., the museum’s collection – the result of Rosato digging into her own pockets – features examples of nursing uniforms, caps, tools, charts, furniture, mementos and books that date as far back as 1750. "I was just an antiquer from early on, which I consider a form of therapy," said Rosato, a former entry-level nursing instructor at GateWay Community College in Phoenix. "But I was always interested in the nursing memorabilia. The museum reflects my commitment to nursing." The museum, which is funded through donations and museum store sales, also arranges tours and lends part of its collection for special nursing and community events such as National Nurses Week, nurse appreciation days and community outreach programs. Filling
a void "It’s a really good question: Why don’t we have a national museum of nursing?" asked Julie Fairman, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, which contains the Center for the Study of the History of Nursing. "I suspect it’s probably linked to nursing’s status – or money. We had a hard enough time trying to get a national research library. "It would be great," she said. "It would be a real source of pride for nurses." Anne McNamara, Ph.D., RN, project director of the Arizona Colleagues in Caring grant project for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, believes the Glendale museum is a good first step – albeit a baby step – in that direction. "It’s wonderful. It gives you a real feeling for nursing history," she said. Tools
of their trade "When you see it in the museum, what strikes you is that in some ways it was so simple, and in some ways it was so difficult," McNamara said. "They didn’t have electric beds and all the things we have today. But you can see how they could do what they needed to do to get the job done." One of the most striking examples, Rosato believes, are the heavy steel dishes nurses used to serve patients their meals in the days before Styrofoam and Mel-Mac. "You really get an idea of how physical the job was when you see those dishes," she said. Of all the items on display, the uniforms remain a continuing source of fascination for nurses of all ages, Rosato admits. "The caps, the capes, the shoes – it’s hard for nurses now to imagine working in those clothes. And they were not allowed to sit down because it would wrinkle their uniforms." Many of the uniforms have to be exhibited on child mannequins because the nurses’ physiques were much smaller then. While no one comes away wishing for a return to starched hats and cufflinks, some items do induce a bit of nostalgia. "We have a lot of young nurses who say, ‘Why don’t we have a candle-lighting celebration [an old graduation ceremony tradition] at our school?’ They are looking to some of the rituals and affirmations of nursing, and appreciating their meaning. It’s good to have a place where this can happen." |
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NEWS
AND TRENDS | CAREER
CENTER | EDUCATION
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