tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post8082008130496387546..comments2019-02-13T13:40:33.913-05:00Comments on VNA CEO: History of the VNAB: The People, The Times and How We Became Who We AreReyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01509837940212687446noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-4717481842056064312011-04-26T14:02:56.779-04:002011-04-26T14:02:56.779-04:00Hi Rebecca---I share your fascination with stories...Hi Rebecca---I share your fascination with stories from the past (as well as the present) and am amazed at the foresight, stamina and compassion that our predecessors had. <br />I was struck by your observation about many similar themes and concerns with home health care today and your question asking if we’re still fighting the same battles or is it just the human condition?<br />I thought I’d share an observation by Margaret Mead (an American cultural anthropologist) who lived among peoples in “primitive” societies). I had the surprising good fortune of meeting and spending a recent week-end with Margaret Mead’s daughter, who is also a cultural anthropologist. <br />Margaret observed that the essential human facts and problems are basically the same in all societies the world over i.e. birth, illness, death. <br />She observed while living among New Guinea mountain natives, that depending on their (the native peoples’) experience and talent, “they come to have a special function in society…they come to be the guardians of some part of the whole life of the group in which they live.” <br />To an audience of nurses in Chicago, in 1956, she said that “The need for this function of protecting the vulnerable is one that will never disappear. There is no possibility of a human society where it will not always exist.”<br />She goes on to say “because of your special training, your special insights, and your special sensitivity, you can take over the task of guarding certain things in the whole of our national life.”<br /> This talk was published in an article in the “American Journal of Nursing” in August, 1956, titled “Nursing---Primitive and Civilized”. <br />The quote that stuck out for me follows.<br />“The protection of the vulnerable, the sensitive understanding of grief, and the compassionate service of her/his hands are unique functions of the nurse in our modern society”. <br />So yes Rebecca, there is a Santa Clause…er, I mean there is a group of helping professionals whose role is “to fight human tendencies that compromise our personal health and that of our communities and to support and facilitate change in behavior, provide opportunity, form healthy communities, and educate” Thank you for that wonderful definition.<br />And, thank you to all the VNAB staff, past, present, and future.Kate Monahannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-23808084493695922882011-04-25T15:29:04.075-04:002011-04-25T15:29:04.075-04:00Thank you for taking the time to share your resear...Thank you for taking the time to share your research with us. I started at the VNAB when we were celebrating our 100th anniversary and have seen much change and growth over the years, but am still fascinated by the (really) early years. I am sure there is much we can learn from our past and I look forward to having you share it with us.Nancy Mortonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-64159374649564966892011-04-25T10:38:37.820-04:002011-04-25T10:38:37.820-04:00Thanks Todd -
Please feel free to add your comme...Thanks Todd - <br /><br />Please feel free to add your comments re history any time. When you see history as relevant and personal it really becomes more interesting doesn't it...<br /><br />RebeccaRebeccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-54067187898223004172011-04-25T10:21:25.296-04:002011-04-25T10:21:25.296-04:00Hey Lorraine -
Do you have any old equipment arou...Hey Lorraine -<br /><br />Do you have any old equipment around that you think would be interesting to display? We are dedicating a shelf in the display at Simmons to objects from nursing practice past. I suppose most of it has been thrown away to make space for the new!<br /><br />RebeccaRebeccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-80514687200942230442011-04-20T16:29:56.657-04:002011-04-20T16:29:56.657-04:00I have been part of the VNAB team for just 4 month...I have been part of the VNAB team for just 4 months now. And, as a bit of a history buff, I couldn't have arrived at a more exciting time. I look forward to all the information shared regarding this remarkable milestone, in a company so rooted in the history of our beautiful city!Todd Thetonianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1287890447410437462.post-65289372483160143752011-04-19T07:31:39.773-04:002011-04-19T07:31:39.773-04:00Rebecca as one of the folks who has cleaned many c...Rebecca as one of the folks who has cleaned many closets at VNAB and wondered about old equipment that the clinicians used and seeing the improvement of the updated version I to get curious. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to reading more. <br />LorraineLorrainenoreply@blogger.com