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Nursing care of some sort or another is part of the
human existence. Originally, much of it was probably
done by family members and other times by special religious
orders or by physicians in training. Only occasionally
was it done by specially trained individuals. The Roman
army, for example, had a special class of troops called
contubernalis, literally "tent companions,"
perhaps from the time when hospitals were tents. Later,
as hospitals became more permanent, those who took care
of the sick were called adjutants or simply attendants.
In the United States, the first training schools for
nurses, known as the Nightingale model schools, were
established in 1873. But people performed nursing roles
before that, especially in wartime. Even in peacetime,
they achieved a reputation for their ability to care
for the sick and afflicted.
One of the more famous women in this nurse category
is Sojourner Truth (1797-1883?), known as an abolitionist,
lecturer, advocate for women's rights-but also a nurse.
Born a slave, her given name at birth was Isabella,
and her last name varied during her lifetime. She was
for a time known by her father's surname (Baumfree or
Bomefree), at other times by the name of her owners,
Hardenbergh, Neely and Dumont among them. She managed
to escape from her last owner, and the family who had
sheltered her paid $20 to buy her freedom. For a time,
she took their name and was known as Isabella Von Wagener.
In 1843, however, she heard a voice that she believed
came from God, and took the name of Sojourner Truth.
After that, she began preaching. She soon became a powerful
speaker for abolition.
In 1864, when she was about 67, she was received by
President Lincoln and was appointed a counselor by the
National Freedmen's Relief Association and worked in
Freed-man's Village in Arlington Heights, Va. There,
she taught women how to cope with the deplorable conditions
in which they lived.
In September 1865, she was appointed to work with a
physician at Freedmen's Hospital in Washing-ton. For
more than two years, she nursed African-American soldiers
at the severely understaffed hospital. She also taught
the newly recruited "nurses" how to change
bandages, wash wounds and make beds.
She organized a group of women to clean the hospital
and brought order to the chaotic conditions. She also
asked Congress to provide funding for training nurses.
In short, she became a nurse as it was defined and was
an advocate for nursing.
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