Nursing
In September of 1914 at the beginning of the war, nurses were recruited from both the nursing service and the civilian profession and served as an integral of the AIF. At least 2139 nurses served in the armed forces from 1914-1919 with 49 deaths. They travelled with the Australian troops including Egypt, England, France, Belgium and Mesopotamia.
In fact, nurses were the first to receive bravery awards for Australian women. Sr Clare Deacon, Sr Dorothy Cawood, Sr Alice Ross-King and Staff Nurse Mary Derrer received the Military Medal for risking their lives to rescue patients trapped in burning buildings on the Western Front France- 1917.
When working in the armed forces, the conditions and requirements were clearly verified to those nurses in civilian work places. They were often forced into to situations where they would have to improvise using only the tools that were available which frequently limited their options. When attending to their patients, they had to be decisive and think on their feet as their opinions would determine the severity of the patient. Their excessive workload and low staff numbers raised the requirements needed of a nurse. A nurse in the armed forces required different skills to those who worked in a civilian field- they would have to acquire a high-level of strength, decisive thinking and bravery.
Nurses, like the soldiers, found the conditions of the war unbearable to work in. The exhaustion of being under attack constantly left them in shock and terror when they would come under fire from the enemy. When returning home, like the soldiers, having seen all the horrific experiences of the soldiers many women suffered from psychological traumas, including depression and nightmares which also plagued the men when they returned home.
When working in the armed forces, the conditions and requirements were clearly verified to those nurses in civilian work places. They were often forced into to situations where they would have to improvise using only the tools that were available which frequently limited their options. When attending to their patients, they had to be decisive and think on their feet as their opinions would determine the severity of the patient. Their excessive workload and low staff numbers raised the requirements needed of a nurse. A nurse in the armed forces required different skills to those who worked in a civilian field- they would have to acquire a high-level of strength, decisive thinking and bravery.
Nurses, like the soldiers, found the conditions of the war unbearable to work in. The exhaustion of being under attack constantly left them in shock and terror when they would come under fire from the enemy. When returning home, like the soldiers, having seen all the horrific experiences of the soldiers many women suffered from psychological traumas, including depression and nightmares which also plagued the men when they returned home.