A Tribute To Nursing

When I was a sophomore in high school in 1961-62, the Peace Corps was started and I dearly wanted to go. Not having the money for college, I decided that if I became a nurse, they would surely take me. That began my seven year plan- two more years of high school, three years of nursing school and then two years in Peace Corps. One of the nuns at my Catholic high school said to me, " Marjorie, don't you know that a nurse is the lowest member of God's army?" I've thought of that many times after all these years. At that time, almost all young women became teachers, secretaries or nurses. A few courageous ones bucked the prejudices and pursued law, medical and business degrees. No one at that time went into nursing for the money or prestige. It was almost like a religious calling to help the sick and care for people. It was always considered " a good job to fall back on."

While not considering myself religious now, at that time this prayer spoke to me.

A Nurse's Prayer

Dearest Lord,may I see you today and every day in the person of thy sick, and whilst nursing them minister unto thee.

Though Thou hidest behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize Thee and say: Jesus, my Patient, how sweet it is to serve thee. Lord, give me this seeing faith; then my work will never be monotonous.

Oh, beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me when you personify Christ, and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to nurse you. Sweetest lord, make me appreciate the dignity of my high vocation and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness,unkindness, and impatience; and since thou art Jesus my Patient, deign also to be my patient Jesus, bearing with my many faults, looking only to my intention which is always to love and serve Thee in the person of each and every one of Thy sick.

Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts, and sanctify my work now and forever. Amen