Susan King Taylor: Intro To Professional Nursing

1092 Words5 Pages

Nursing Paper Fitsum Deresa Intro to Professional Nursing Charmain McKie, RN, MS, MPH Nursing Paper Susan (Baker) King Taylor is a very important historian that played a significant role in the nursing field. Her contribution to the nursing profession is astounding, but easily forgotten and unnoticed by many. Susie was born on August 6th, 1848 at Grest Farm on the Isle of Wight, in Liberty County, Georgia (35 miles from Savanna). The oldest of nine children born into slavery, her owners allowed her to move with her grandmother (Dolly Reed) in Savanna at the age of seven. Ms. Reed was a freed slave who considered education to be the most crucial aspect of a person’s life. Unfortunately it was forbidden …show more content…

At the age of 14 years old Susie King began teaching children and adults how to read and write. After some time had passed the former slaves along with Susie and her uncle’s family escaped the plantation. They joined with the Union Army encampment on St. Catherine Island and remained there for two weeks before transferring to St. Simon’s Island (Taylor, S. (1902). Reminiscences of my life in camp with the 33d United States colored troops, late 1st S.C, volunteers. Boston: The author.). The soldiers realized how much of an educated person Susan is and requested that she should establish a school for the uneducated within the group. This of course occurred when Captain Whitmore found out she could read and write in comparison to the …show more content…

Her life began as a struggle to obtain knowledge as an African-American female in the late 1800’s. Growing from an apprentice into a master she began educating the young and old into future teachers or physicians. Despite her already elevated literacy and nursing ability she still strived to further her intelligence. Much like how nurses and doctors go back to school to learn new practices; I believe Susan understood this need during her time as well. If I were born in the 19th century and had the pleasure of learning from Susie Taylor, or were to be a colleague I would try my best to match her wits. I would follow in her lead because she was one of a few African-American females to accomplish what she had during her time. She was the epitome of what a woman was considered to be and more. When Susie Taylor would maintain her logs, I would do the same but not a personal memoir. I would compile documentation on every medical procedure carried out, good or bad; then figure out how to correct the bad and improve the