Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1958-02-08
Miss NeII.S.
.Lightfoot Tells
Of Her Nursing
Experience


telling of her experience of nurs-
ing. Miss Nell s. Lightfoot, known
by her colleagues as Nurse Simp-
son Lightfoot, has been of the staff
OF some of the largest hospitals
in the city of Jackson. During her
Ia years of nursing experiences,
she was the first colored nurse to
be hired at the Jackson Infirmary
Hospital in which she was in
charge of the colored department
for four years. During her time
there she witnessed very serious
operations. One of the most sue
cessful operations was that of a
colored woman who was a patient
of one of our own colored ply
sicians and surgeons, who helped
to perform the brain operation
which was great success. Today,
that lady is one of our fine lead
ers in church activities.
Another experience in this
nurses career was a miracle in
which five doctors gave up a pa
tlent to die and advised this nurse
to notify the patients family which
consisted of five daughters who
were called in to come by her bed
side. This patient had about six
different tubes inserted into her
body. After administering to her
for 36 hours without leaving her
bedside; within six hours, the pa
tient was rapidly improving. After
notifying the doctors they stated,
at was miracle" Today, that
lady is still living and frequently
calls to express her gratitude.
She has served on the staff of
the Charity Hospital, she has been
on the staff of the Infantile Pa
ralysis Foundation, where she has
given treatments to 265 cases of
polio. She states that it isn't too
difficult to treat person in an
iron lung. She has also been on
the staff of the University Hos
pital, Baptist Hospital, and several
smaller hospitals in the city.
Presently, she is doing private
duty and her relationship toward
it is: 81 like private duty because
like freedom-not to do as I
please, but to speak as l may as
long as / am right"
Many times she has been asked
about the nursing career. She will
answer that question by dedicating
two of her original poems.
WHAT 1T TAKES TO BE
A NURSE
To be nurse is to walk with God
along the way our Master trod;
To be true and kind, serving your
Master and all mankind.
To be nurse one must sooth the
aching of human pains,
To be of faithful service for little
gained.
To be nurse is loving to do the
kindly deeds-to all race, color,
or creeds;
A tender hand on a feeble brow,
a word of cheer to- the living
now.
TO be nurse you must be willing
to obey ever command for
the Great Physician is work
ing through your hand.
A NURSES PRAYER
The world grows brighter year by
year because some nurse with
her little skill, put on her
apron - smiles and sings -.
keeps on doing the same old
thing.
She takes the temperature; she
gives the pills; she renders
mankind numerous ills.
She feeds the babies; she answers
the bells-polite with a heart
that rebels.
She leaves from home all dressed
in white-she blesses the new
born babies first birth. She
cleans the eyes that are stilled
in death;
She takes the blame for all mis-
takes. Dear Lord! what a lot
of patience it takes.
She goes off duty at Z o'clock
tired, discouraged and ready
to drop.
She's called right out again at 7:15
with woe in the heart that
must not be seen.
Morning, noon, evening, and night,
she must be willing to take
her flight
Dear Lord, will you give us one
little star to wear on the cap
of our uniform
This is the Nurses Prayer.