Nursing 101 Facts About Nursing

by NursingSchools.com Staff First Published on NursingSchools.com - August 15, 2003 1. January 27th is School Nurse Day. 2. The most visits to emergency rooms occur during the warmer months of the year. 3. According to the latest data available to the World Health Organization, Finland, Norway, Monaco, Ireland and Belarus have, in that order, the highest ratios of nurses per capita of all nations, ranging from 2162.0 to 1182.0 nurses per 100,000 people. 4. The National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses was formed in 1908. 5. According to a 2001 World Health Organization report, the number of psychiatric nurses in poor countries is about 0.1 per 100,000 persons. 6. In 1783 a black slave named James Derham worked as a nurse in New Orleans, eventually earning enough money to buy his freedom and move to Philadelphia, where he studied medicine and became a doctor. 7. Men and women between the ages of 25 and 44 account for 33 percent of all people in the U. S. who come to emergency rooms with injury-related wounds. 8. Linda Richards became the first nurse to earn a nursing diploma in the United States in 1873. 9. In 1846 the first hospital training school for nurses, the Institute for Protestant Deaconesses, was established in the town of Kaiserwerth, Germany. 10. The National Association of School Nurses recommends nurse-to-student ratios should be one to 750 for general populations, one to 250 in mainstreamed populations and 1 to 125 in severely handicapped populations. 11. According to a recent World Health Organization report, the United States spends more money, as a ratio of GNP, on health care than any country, followed closely by Lebanon and Zimbabwe. 12. "When we are well, we all have good advice for those who are ill." Terence, from The Woman of Andros (166 B.C.) 13. In a 2001 survey done by the ANA/NursingWorld.com, 45.3% of nurses expressed fear of getting a potentially deadly disease as one of their top three occupational health concerns. 14. Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. 15. According to the latest data available to the World Health Organization, Nepal, Liberia, Central African Republic, Haiti and Bangladesh have, in that order, the lowest ratios of nurses per capita of all nations, ranging from 5.0 to 11.0 nurses per 100,000 people. 16. One out of every four registered nurses works part time. 17. The American Nurses Association, first known as the Nurses Associated Alumnae, was started in 1898. 18. The New England Hospital for Women and Children, established in 1862, was the

first school for nursing in the U.S. 19. The order of the Brothers of Mercy was founded in 1538 by Juan Ciudad. (b. 1495. d. 1550.) 20. One out of every five licensed practical nurses works part time. 21. During the months that school is out emergency room visits from children under 14 years old rise by 18 percent. 22. The demand for registered nurses is expected to rise 21 to 35 percent through the first decade of the 21st Century. 23. "The charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others." Homer, from Odyssey (9th Century, B.C.). 24. There were 358 existing Master's of Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002, comprising 9.1% of all registered nurses. 25. In a 2001 survey done by the ANA/NursingWorld.com, 59.4% of nurses expressed fear of getting a severe back injury as one of their top three occupational health concerns. 26. Around 500 A. D. the Benedictine nursing order was founded by Saint Benedict. 27. There were 75 existing Doctorate of Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002, comprising 0.6% of all registered nurses. 28. There were 1,100 existing Practical Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002. 29. The average annual earnings for registered nurses was $44,840 in 2000. 30. In 1996, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported that one million workers are assaulted every year in the workplace and that "Most of these assaults occur in service settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and social service agencies." 31. In 1898 the British Army formed the Royal Army Medical Corp. 32. According to the latest data available to the World Health Organization, Ireland, Seychelles, Maldives, Philippines and Azerbaijan have, in that order, the highest ratios of midwives per capita of all nations, ranging from 411.0 to 137.0 midwives per 100,000 people. 33. In 1947, Florence Blanchfield became the first female regular commissioned officer in the United States Army, assigned as the superintendent of the Army Nurse Corp. (b. 1882. d. 1971). 34. There are approximately 567,000 bicycle-related injuries each year that require emergency room attention. 35. 29 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to British medical personnel. 36. The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) has been the main regulatory institution of nursing training and standards in the British since 1983. 37. "It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can

sincerely try to help another without helping himself." Charles Dudley Warner, from "Fifth Study," Backlog Studies (1873). 38. You know you are a nurse when you baste your Thanksgiving turkey with a Toomey syringe. 39. According to a 2001 World Health Organization report, nurses and midwives can comprise between 50% to 90% of the number of health practitioners in many countries. 40. The American College of Nurse-Midwives was formed in 1955. 41. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national accrediting body of nursing education programs of all types, oversees over 1,900 different programs. 42. "If you would live in health, be old early." - a Spanish proverb. 43. Walt Witman's service as a nurse during the American Civil War inspired many of his poems, including Memoranda During the War. (b. 1819. d. 1892.) 44. According to the latest data available to the World Health Organization, the country of Nepal has the lowest ratio of nurses per capita in the world, with 5.0 per 100,000 people. 45. The first nursing school in history dates back to 250 B.C. and was located in India. 46. An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) takes about 2 to 3 years. 47. Clara Louise Maass is famous for serving as a contract nurse during the Spanish American War. (b. 1876. d. 1901.) 48. The largest demand for licensed practical nurses through 2110 will be in nursing homes. 49. Early in the 17th Century a shipwreck survivor, Juan de Mena, is considered the first nurse in the New World. 50. The average starting wage for a certified registered nurse anesthetist is over $50,000. 51. According to a recent World Health Organization report, 93 member countries of the United Nations annually spend less than $100 per capita on health care, 56 member countries spend less than $500 per capita and 26 member countries spend over $1000 per capita. 52. The Teutonic Knights, the Knights of Lazarus and the Knights Hospitalers, were all orders that organized male nurses to tend to sick and wounded. 53. Second Lieutenant Edward Lynn, in 1955, was the first male to be commissioned in the United States Army Nurse Corp. 54. Around nine million children visit emergency rooms in the U.S. each year due to injuries. 55. "To preserve a man alive in the midst of so many chances and hostilities, is as great a miracle as to create him." Jeremy Taylor, from The Rule and Exercise of

Holy Dying (1651). 56. In October of 1902 Lina Rogers Struthers became the first school nurse in the United States. 57. The second week of May is National Nursing Home Week. 58. A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) takes about 4 to 5 years. 59. Lucretia Lester was a midwife for 34 years, between 1745 and 1779, and is reputed to have helped deliver 1,300 children, of which only two were lost. 60. The Knights Hospitalers was founded in 1119 to protect a hospital build in Jerusalem and also provided nursing care. 61. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. (b. 1821. d. 1912). 62. A 1996 survey done by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 95% of all working nurses are female. 63. The U.S. Army Nurse Corp was started in 1901. 64. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, open wounds are the leading diagnosis for injury-related visits to emergency rooms. 65. Why did the nurse keep the bedpan in the refrigerator? Because when she kept it in the freezer it took too much skin off. 66. There were about 700,000 jobs for licensed practical nurses in the year 2000. 67. According to a recent World Health Organization report, the United States, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Germany, respectively, annually spend the most money per capita on health care. 68. About three out of every five registered nurses work in hospitals. 69. The fourth week of May is National Nurses Week. 70. There are more nurses than any other workers in the health profession. 71. "When a man is ill his very goodness is sickly." Nietzsche, The Will to Power (1888). 72. A 1996 survey done by the Department of Health and Human Services found that only 10% of working nurses represent minorities. 73. There were 86 existing Diploma for Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002, comprising 27.0% of all registered nurses. 74. You know you are a nurse when you think giving your patients TLC means giving them Thorazine, Lorazepam and Compazine. 75. The training time it takes to become a licensed practical nurse is about 1 year. 76. Traumatic wounds account for around 11 million visits to the emergency room each year.

77. The Canadian Victorian Order of Nurses was founded in 1897 in honor of Queen Victoria of England's Diamond Jubilee. 78. Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of Abraham Lincoln, was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War. (b. 1818. d. 1882.) 79. There were about 2,200,000 jobs for registered nurses in the year 2000. 80. If you see a nurse smiling when things go wrong, she is probably going off duty. 81. May 8th is National Student Nurses' Day. 82. According to a 2001 World Health Organization report, the number of psychiatric nurses in developed countries is about 33.5 per 100,000 persons. 83. The first week of May is National Hospital Week and Health Care Administrators' Week. 84. In the various U.S. Military branches, approximately one-third of all nurses are male. 85. In 2000, there were 57,954 school nurses looking out for the health of 52 million students. 86. The Nurses Registration Act of 1919 established the first oversight of nursing training and standards in Great Britain. 87. There were 885 existing Associate Degrees for Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002, comprising 32.0% of all registered nurses. 88. According to the latest data available to the World Health Organization, the United States has a ratio of 972.0 nurses per 100,000 people, or about the same as Germany and Uzbekistan. 89. In a 2001 survey done by the ANA/NursingWorld.com, 50.7% of nurses said they worked an average of 41 to 60 hours per week. 90. Mary Seacole, a self-taught nurse was famous for establishing a hotel for invalids close to the front during the Crimean War. (b. 91. In a 2001 survey done by the ANA/NursingWorld.com, nurses said they spent 61.5% of their time in direct patient care. 92. Anne L. Austin was a famous historian of nursing. (b. 1891. d. 1986.) 93. Florence Nightingale, the most famous nurse in modern history, was only a nurse for three years of her life. (b. 1820. d. 1910). 94. Saint Camillus de Lellis established a Catholic order called the Fathers of a Good Death in 1584 to tend to the terminally ill and is also reputed to have designed the red cross on a white background symbol and to have developed the first ambulance. (b. 1550. d. 1614.) 95. The average annual earnings for licensed practical nurses was $29,440 in 2000. 96. Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first African-American nurse in 1879. (b. 1845.

d. 1926). 97. There were 695 existing Baccalaureate of Nursing programs in the U.S. in 2002, comprising 31.0% of all registered nurses. 98. You know you are a nurse when you find yourself complimenting a complete stranger on his veins. 99. The demand for licensed practical nurses is expected to rise 10 to 20 percent through the first decade of the 21st Century. 100. In a 2001 survey done by the ANA/NursingWorld.com, 70.5% of nurses selected 'acute/chronic effects of stress and overwork' as one of their top three occupational health concerns. 101. You know you are in trouble when it's your first night shift in three years --and there's a full moon