Nursing Sisters become Nursing Officers

Heroes Remember

Nursing Sisters become Nursing Officers

Transcript

Well it sort of changed with, with some of us feeling strongly about it at the time that were still in the forces, yeah, yeah. Because it's misleading. It, it indicates, nursing sister, sort of indicates that you're not on the forces, you're just sort of a nurturer, and all you're there for is to, cool the fevered brows of men and this, this is not what we're about. We were officers, we're officers first, nurses second, like every other classification in the armed forces. You don't, you don't hear the military engineers being called, engineers first, they're called by their rank, and because they're officers first and everyone in the forces has some sort of a trade or occupation. But the fact that they're in the forces takes priority over that. That's what makes them different from civilians, that's all. So that's why we felt strongly about changing it. But there's a great number that feel it shouldn't be changed yet. And you know they're the ones, they're the older military nurses that don't want it changed and you know for obvious reasons I suppose. Because they still think of themselves as looking after our boys.

Description

Mrs. Robinson describes her feelings on changing the professional name of nurses in the Armed Forces from Nursing Sisters to Nursing Officers. She recalls how and why the name was changed.

Shirley Robinson

Shirley Robinson was born in Bruce County Ontario on April 22, 1932. She found the idea of joining the military to be very exciting. She had a successful career which saw her move through many positions in both the operational and administrative side of the forces. Upon her retirement, Shirley Robinson was actively involved in initiatives to further the cause of women’s rights.

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