Have I told you what they call nurses here?
That's right...
They call us...
Sister.
As in nun.
As in Catholic.
As in habit.
As in purity, chastity and poverty.
As in "Are you the Sister on duty tonight?"
or "Sister! Come quickly, I need you!"
As in I now answer the phone, "This is Sister Amy, how can I help?"
As in I now sign my name Sr. Amy Helms RN
Hopefully you find this as humorous as I do.
Half the time I have to laugh before I can answer seriously. "Yes, I am the Sister in charge."
The title is leftover from the times when the only nurses were nuns, or "sisters of mercy" from religious orders, and hospitals were primarily religious facilities responsible for the training of new nurses.
In the states we've obviously moved on from those times, but in South Africa...
They hold with tradition.
And... if you are really lucky.... and you get put in charge of the whole she-bang....
They call you Matron!
Just thought you'd get a kick out of it. Because I do.
Yes, you may call me Sister Amy.
Because now everyone else does too!
Because now everyone else does too!
I Looo-huh-oooove this. :) Sweet Sister Amy. Nice ring to it.