Nursing in the Revolutionary War

I found this interesting:"A Congressional resolution of July 27, 1775 allowed one nurse for every ten patients in Continental hospitals. The Congress allowed two dollars per month as a salary for these nurses, though matrons (women who supervised nurses and acted as liaisons to surgeons) were allotted four dollars per month. In 1776, Congress raised nurses’ pay to four dollars per month, and in 1777, to eight dollars per month, possibly in an attempt to entice more women into nursing or to retain nurses dissatisfied with their jobs. Despite Congressional efforts to increase the number of female nurses for the army, there remained a shortage throughout the war. Regiments constantly sought women to nurse their sick and wounded."

Yes that is crazy! I bet they thought they were rolling in the dough when they got $8/ month!!

That's a 200% raise in 3 years! Compared to my 4% raise over the last 7 years.

Quote from blondy2061hThat's a 200% raise in 3 years! Compared to my 4% raise over the last 7 years.

I love this little bit of history of our profession. It really speaks to what nursing was like in a time when the focus was all on the war. We've been battling for years, and not many know it. I also find it funny that the rate of wage increase was so steep. I wanna get me some of that!

Yeah, they went from making NOTHING to next to nothing. They were sooooo lucky. lol. I bet they didn't work 40 hour weeks either… more like 24/7. Poor women! My heart really goes out to them. They were some STRONG WOMEN! We are spoiled rotten by comparison!

Those are the bravest women any of us could ever hope to be!!! You have to remember they were living in a time when flour and sugar was most likely ten cents a pound etc. Cost of living was very low, but goods were very rare and not as available as they are in our world today. I can't imagine having my children sleep in a battlefield zone. Hopefully we will not know what this is like to have a war on our homefronts again.