A Proud Man.

[Jock Scot]

Crumbs! Yes it is a remarkably loooong list! As usual though, the members of XMTS are so generous with word and spirit, thank you all so much for your kind comments.

[KFCarter]

Congratulations Mrs. Jock!

And bless you for the work you do. There'd be little healing in the world without the true providers of care: nurses!

Okay, I'm prejudiced, my daughter is a nurse; but I stand by that statement.

All the best to you both!

[macwilkin]

Jock,

Congratulations to your lovely wife!

I once worked with a nurse from Scotland. She had explained that nurses in Scotland were sometimes referred to as "Sister". I'm guessing this is a reference to nuns (Sisters of Mercy?) who were members of the profession. Is that still the practice?

Cordially,

David

Same in Australia, especially in military circles.

T.

[davidlpope]

In the UK, sister is a job title, one level up from nurse. The male equivalent is charge nurse, not brother, however. And yes, I believe it does derive originally from nuns being called sister.

The level above sister used to be matron, but I'm not sure they use that title anymore, probably because it sounds ... matronly! I think instead they now call both genders by what used to be the male job title for matron, but I can't recall what it is. My wife would know.

The main thing to remember is that if you refer to an entry-level nurse as sister you have accidentally 'promoted' her by one pay grade. And if you call a male nurse 'sister' then you need to see an optician.

Thanks.

[Galician]

Let me add my congratulations to the Mrs.! As one who had to go back to university at a somewhat "advanced" age for a degree in a completely different field, I can imagine what a challenge she had dealing with the lot of you on top of work and studies.

As an aside regarding the title of Sister for nurses, I'm not clear what the distinction between the two titles means in current usage there. I will note that most medical care of the poor during the Middle Ages was given by monks and nuns in their monasteries. Since the Dissolution under Henry VIII ended that, though, I'm not sure if the title continued in a medical context.

On the other hand, Florence Nightingale, who can be called the founder of modern nursing did recruit Religious Sisters as well to help her in her caring for British troops overseas, the newly-founded Sisters of Mercy being among them.

In this country, several cities continue to provide free mass transit service to nuns and Sisters, due to their heroic care of plague victims during various outbreaks during the 19th century. New Orleans is the most notable example of this continued act of gratitude.

[Jock Scot]

In the UK, sister is a job title, one level up from nurse. The male equivalent is charge nurse, not brother, however. And yes, I believe it does derive originally from nuns being called sister.

The level above sister used to be matron, but I'm not sure they use that title anymore, probably because it sounds ... matronly! I think instead they now call both genders by what used to be the male job title for matron, but I can't recall what it is. My wife would know.

The main thing to remember is that if you refer to an entry-level nurse as sister you have accidentally 'promoted' her by one pay grade. And if you call a male nurse 'sister' then you need to see an optician.

OK from the "horses mouth" so to speak.

A general nurse that is not a qualified SRN is called an "AUXILIARY NURSE".

A nurse qualifying to be a SRN is called a "STUDANT NURSE".

A nurse that has fully qualified as a State Registered Nurse(SRN) is in the UK called a "STAFF NURSE".
To specialise----A&E, intensive care, theatre, etc., you have to be an SRN(although Auxiliaries may assist)
To gain further promotion you also have to be an SRN

In England and Wales the next "rank" is called "SISTER" for females and "CHARGE NURSE" for males.
In Scotland this "rank" for both male and females are called a "CHARGE NURSE".

All of the above have various grades depending on experience and job requirements and the general term is "NURSE"

"MATRON" no longer exists and now sails under various management titles although "SENIOR NURSING OFFICER" would be the nearest.

[creagdhubh]

Congratulations to the both of you! Say by the way is that a Smith tartan you're sporting? Beautiful!

No Bill, it is not. Look closely at the sett mate.

Cheers,

[Jock Scot]

No Bill, it is not. Look closely at the sett mate.

Cheers,

MacLeod of Harris ancient.

[Laird_M]

I was right! Same as mine.

[longhuntr74]

Jock,
Please extend my heartiest congratulations to the Mrs. and I also congratulate you as well. This is truly an admirable accomplishment and you should both be very proud (which I know you are based on the smiles).

My wife graduated in the summer of 2009 with an Emergency Medical Sciences degree after completing a very intensive paramedic training program. When she started back to school, we were fairly "certain" that I would be stable in my deployments and moves for about 3 years. She got two years into it and the Army dropped a bomb on me that they felt the need to reassign me. Her program was not a general studies program that would just allow you to "unplug" and resume at another school...so we made the decision for her and the kids to stay where at our house in North Carolina while I moved away and then deployed. Long story short, that last year of her school was a huge challenge with me gone and attending classes, writing papers, and working multiple "clinical" rotations every week at different ambulance services, hospitals, etc. I was able to schedule my mid-tour leave home from Afghanistan to coincide with her graduation and am very glad that I was able to be there to help as she finished her final studying and testing and then to celebrate her accomplishment with her.