Nursing At A Glance: A Century of Caring

PRESS RELEASE: For Information contact:
Lynn Ford
Visiting Nurses Foundation
360-623-1560

What: ?A Century of Caring? Traveling Exhibit
When: Monday November 2, 2010 thru December 15, 2010
Where: Lewis County Historical Museum
Chehalis, Washington

Opening November 2, 2010 at the Lewis County Museum, Nurses At Your Service: ?A Century of Caring? uncovers a century of nursing in Washington State. Rare documents, medical equipment and photographs tell how the field has advanced since nurses began registering in the state. On display until December 15th, learn how technology, science and compassion have drastically changed the way patients receive care. The traveling exhibit was developed by the Washington State History Museum and the Washington State Nursing Centennial Consortium.

The traveling exhibit is a part of Lewis County Historical Museum and Visiting Nurses Foundation?s Women?s Suffrage Commemoration November 20th and 21st. What does women?s suffrage and the nursing professions have in common? The same legislature that approved the right for women to vote in 1910 also approved the first nurse?s examining board (now called the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission), which established laws in 1909 requiring nurses in Washington state to meet education requirements, pass an examination and apply to be a registered nurse. Nursing was also one of the first professions women could join. If you join us for the Pink Tea on November 20th, your admission into the Museum is included and you will also get a special discount to the Veterans Museum of $4 which will showcase women in the military.

Guests will be able to view antique pharmacopeia, an early medical publication use by nurses to learn surgery, anatomy, symptomatology and diagnosis. It was brought to Vancouver from Montreal by Sisters of Providence in the late 19th Century.

Additionally, guests will learn stories of Washington nurses who served in France during WWI and see sheet music written to romanticize the relationship between a nurse and her patient, a Soldier.

Guests will also see vintage nursing uniforms, early 1900s healthcare equipment, historic photographs and original Asahel Curti glass negative plates of nurses at the first Children?s Orthopedic Hospital and Seattle General Hospital.

Cost is $8.00 a person. This event is supported by the City of Chehalis and Chehalis Hotel/Motels. Proceeds from these events will fund Visiting Nurses Foundation and Lewis County Historical Museum. For further information, call Lynn Ford at 360-623-1560, or contact us at www.VisitingNursesFoundation.org