Nursing is no ‘pink collar’ job

An open letter to Catherine Rampell, syndicated columnist for the Washington Post:

I normally don't read columnists' 'messages” unless the title catches my eye. I did read yours on the coming of the Entrepreneur Barbie and to my umbrage found you included nurses in your listing of so called 'pink-collar” occupations. Really!

I wore a literally white collar (not pink) as a nurse for some 34 years and wonder if you really know what that involves. As a student, I was in charge on night duty with 25-55 patients, some just out of surgery and sometimes with no aide to assist me.

At the age of 17, I held a dying patient in my arms, feeling his life ebbing from him while others attempted to restart his heart (before CPR). I have gotten others breathing again, stopped the flow of blood until the doctor arrived, calmed many on drugs, assisted in surgery, been in charge of others looking to me for directions, alone in ERs with the knowledge that both a heart attack victim and car accident victims were soon arriving, worked in the Philippines as a Red Cross volunteer at Clark Air Base when orphans were arriving from Vietnam and do not believe that an Air Force nurse stationed there wore a 'pink-collar” when she was ejected from the back of the C-5A when it experienced explosive decompression.

I notice that you have not included your 'occupation” in your listing of pink-collars where I believe you to belong.

Carol Schuldt

Iowa City