How Is Ruby Bradly Portrayed As A Nurse In Ww2

Abstract

It was easy to misjudge the work that nurses did in the 1940’s because of how differently they were treated from men. They were often overlooked at how important they were to the military. Nurses in World War II were heavily relied on. Nurses had to go through extensive training to join the Army Nurse Corps. Just like soldiers, they too went through tough hardships along the duration of the war. Not only did nurses have to be tough minded to live in conditions not suited for women, they also had to be creative in the field. An important figure in the war was Ruby Bradly. She was a tough nurse who endured hardships as a P.O.W. and was heavily respected after the war. The Army Nurse Corps created opportunities later on in life for women

She was widely known as the “Angel in Fatigue” when she served in the Philippines as a hospital administrator at camp John Hay in Baguio. When the Japanese took over the camp, she, a fellow nurse, and a doctor hid in the hills. 5 days later they surrendered after being found. While she was a prisoner of war, “she helped set up dispensaries and smuggled in morphine and surgical instruments.” Amazingly she was able to help a women give birth with only a tea strainer and gauze with ether for an anesthesia. She being the caring and generous person she is, saved rations of rice to give to hungry children in need, which made her go from a merely 110 pounds to only 84!! In captivity for 37 months, she managed to assist in 230 operations and deliver 13 babies. “She served in 2 wars – World War II and the Korean War – , earned 34 medals, and became the most decorated nurse and 3rd woman in army history to ever be promoted to the rank of colonel” surprisingly after all of her accomplishments, she never saw herself as special, she only referred to herself as “just an army nurse” (McLellan,

The Army Nurse Corps opened many doors for women in the military, as they soon could have different roles and responsibilities later on in the future. Nurses often provided comfort and companionship to thousands of wounded and tired soldiers throughout the war. They cared about who they treated rather than just administrating medicine and going about their day. Nurses took time to get to know their patients to provide the best service and comfortability for said soldiers. Because nurses were a big a part of the war, newly found respect and opportunities for women were surfaced after World War II (“American Military Nurses in World War II”, n.d.). “Women created social and economic opportunities for themselves that was highly appreciated.” Many nurses boosted the fighting moral of injured men to recover and fight because soldiers thought that if women can be up in the frontlines, they can as well. After World War II, many job positions opened and were available to women – “Pilots, factory workers, baseball players, war correspondents, journalists, and office workers” (“After the War”, n.d.). Nurses today are just as significant because they’re the heart and soul of healthcare professions. They still provide comfort to those in need and find ways to relate to their patients. Nurses care about their