A group of nursing students is discussing the traits of Victorian wives that crossed over to nurses. Which traits would they conclude had an early effect on the nursing profession?

Question

a. Submission, harmony, and hard work
b. Power, peace, and position
c. Paternalism, compliance, and dullness
d. Organized, noble, and good

Answer 1

A
The Victorian wife was expected to "be good.". She was esteemed by her husband but had li-mited power within the confines of the home and society. She was expected to be hard working and able to maintain harmony while at the same time being submissive to the demands of her husband. Generally, this fostered dependence on the dominant male figure—the Victorian hus-band. Nurses generally were women who wanted to avoid the drudgery of a Victorian marriage. They were required to be single to make a complete commitment to their vocation. Schooled in submission, women were expected to be equally accommodating within the hospital organization. A good nurse worked for harmony within the hospital. She was expected to be hard working and submissive. The doctor and the hospital administrator were frequently the same person, usually a man who expected position and power to go hand in hand.