You Think of Him Only as A Poet. He's is on the List of the Most Famous Nurses Too

Born in 1819, Walter “Walt” Whitman was a famous American poet. You may have heard of him as an essayist, journalist and even a humanist too.

Integrating both views – transcend dentalism and realism – Whitman was a part of the transition as a true humanist. Often at times called the father of free verse – Walt Whitman can be considered as one of the most influential poets in the American canon. Moreover, you might have already heard about his controversial poetry collection – Leaves of Grass.

So, you may know him as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk and barely, you'll know him as a nurse. Yes, he not only published his poetry, he was also a volunteer nurse in the American Civil War, that too for three long years.

Listed among the top ten most famous nurses in the history, Walt Whitman was a part of the era when extraordinary women and men approved of a change. They aimed to make the nurses take over the path from the bedpan to a bachelor's degree – and that's exactly how the seeds of modern nursing were born.

Served for three years in the American Civil War as a volunteer nurse, Whitman did not have any formal nursing education. But in 1862, after his brother, George, was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg while he was serving with the Union Army, Whitman felt motivated to visit the wounded soldiers in the military hospitals in the area of Washington, D.C.

600 hospital visits, and approximately more than 100,000 wounded soldiers, Whitman once described in a letter back home for his mother about how he brought ice cream to the wounded soldiers in the hospital's 18 wards.

He helped both their body and soul – listened to the soldiers' stories, and sent those words to their families on their behalf. He raised their spirits and also sat by them while they died – a true nurse's spirit.

As a nurse-journalist, Whitman got inspired by the war and the wounds. Being a humanist, he published 'Drum-Taps' – a book of poems about America during the Civil War. Out of which, 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd' and 'O Captain! My Captain!' are the most celebrated poems of the collection.

Of course, the modern era of the nursing profession has begin, for nurses like him have pioneered the revolutionary change. Are you looking for the best nursing programs overseas so that you can serve the humanity? Check out the best nursing programs at INSCOL.com and shine on!

Until next time