When I was young, we lived in a tiny town in Iowa—population 469. My mom worked at the little library, and I thought I was in book heaven. While she worked, I sat in the aisle and read like crazy.
Some of my favorites were the 1930s, '40s, and '50s nurse stories. Cherry Ames and Sue Barton were my top picks. I read all the Sue Barton books—Rural Nurse many times. I didn't read as many of the Cherry Ames books, but I loved them.
Finding copies at the thrift store brings a smile and happy memories of days spent reading in the library while Mom worked.
I dreamed of being a hero nurse like Sue or Cherry. I sighed at the handsome men wooing them. These nurses looked so glamorous, and I just knew I had to be a nurse.
When I was a teenager, I volunteered at the hospital as a Candy Striper—a dream come true. I was so happy to wear that red and white striped dress and run errands throughout the hospital. Taking warm specimens to the lab wasn't my favorite, but I did it with a smile because I was living my dream. After 100 hours, I earned a pin, and I still have it.
I learned a few valuable lessons from these vintage girls.
1. Helping others is why we're here. Whether we're nurses or not, everyone should be ready to pitch in and help someone who needs it.
2. Life is an adventure. It never stops, and you have to make the best of it.
3. Keep your girlfriends close. You never know when you'll need to solve a mystery, help someone, or get out of a jam.
4. Clothes make the girl. Come on! How cool are those uniforms and that cape? (Insert dramatic swoon...) I found a WWII-era wool nurse cape at the thrift store. I almost kept it so I could swagger around the house looking as cool as my childhood heroes.
5. Books inspire. Reading these books felt like living the girls' adventures. They took me to new places and inspired me to dream. I considered nursing, but my creative mind prefers words and music over math and science.
My life took a different direction, but for a while, I dreamed I was a young nurse having glorious adventures. I'm thankful for my mom's job in that small-town library that gave me plenty of time to read and befriend Sue and Cherry.
What about you? Did you read any of these old nursing stories? What books inspired your childhood dreams?
Revisit more childhood favorites with eight life lessons from Anne of Green Gables and five life lessons from Nancy Drew.