Interesting and Fun Facts about Nurses and Nursing
Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in any industry. It is also one of the most physically strenuous jobs. The work environment is both fun and sad for many, depending on how a nurse’s day turns out. Nurses and trained healthcare professionals have been the backbone of our communities since time began. In this article, we take a look at some fun nursing facts and stats.
How much do you know about nursing? What other things do you want to know about this noble profession? Share your nursing facts, knowledge and comments or tag us on our social media pages @bowerhealthcare
10 Fun Nursing Trivia Questions and Answers
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Who was the first aboriginal nurse in Australia?
Marilyn Lowe was the first aboriginal nurse in Australia, particularly at the Royal Newcastle Hospital. In 2013, she celebrated her 50th year since she gained her nursing papers.
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Who or what was Florence Nightingale named after?
Established as the Lady with the Lamp, Florence Nightingale was named after her birthplace Florence, Italy. She was a trailblazing figure in the world of nursing, making a great impact in the policies around proper care in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Who was NASA's first nurse?
Dee O’Hara was the first nurse to NASA’s astronauts in 1959. She was tasked to look after the astronauts of the Mercury Seven and their families. She also laid down the foundation for Space nursing
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Where was the first nursing school established and when?
It was first established in India in 250 BC. At that time, only men were considered “pure enough” to become nurses and it remained dominated by men until the mid-1800s.
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How many times has the nursing profession been ranked as the most ethical by the Australian public?
The nursing profession ranked at the top 23 times since its first inclusion in the annual survey in 1994.
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Do travel nurses need additional education?
No additional schooling or exams are required to become a travel nurse only a current RN license.
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Do travel nurses live out of a suitcase?
The average travel assignment lasts from 4 to 13 weeks or longer. Nurses can choose to stay in a housing provided by the host/sponsor or pay for housing using a stipend provided.
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Who was the black slave who paid for his freedom through nursing?
In 1783, James Derham worked as a nurse in New Orleans. As a black slave, one of his goals was to earn enough money to pay his way out of slavery. After he achieved this, he moved to Philadelphia where he studied to become a doctor.
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How many Nursing Specialties does Australia’s registering body recognise?
None. Only 23 Medical Specialities are recognised by the registering body in Australia but no nursing specialties.
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How does nursing in Australia compare to the UK?
Ausmed, an Associate Member of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, provides the following figures:
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Nurse-to-patient ratio is lower in Australia than in the UK at 1:4 to 1:8, respectively. This means a much lower stress for nurses in Australia.
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Nurses per capita (100) is at 1.59 in Australia and 1.05 in the UK.
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The average salary is much higher in Australia at AUS $65,000 (£38,535 GBP)
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Both Australia and the UK have more female nurses than male nurses.
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Australia
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UK
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88.6% female
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11.4% male
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UK is ranked #1 in the overall world healthcare ranking while Australia ranks #2.