Today’s Red Cross nurses are continuing a proud tradition of service that stretches back to the earliest days the organization. Nursing was at the core of the International Red Cross Movement at its beginning and Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, first came to public attention as an amateur nurse who provided aid to soldiers during the Civil War.
To this day, Red Cross nurses follow in the footsteps of Jane Delano, a leading pioneer of the modern nursing profession, who almost single-handedly created American Red Cross Nursing.
A woman of incredible energy, her remarkable career included service as:
Not long after her death, American nurses collected funds for a memorial to Delano and the other nurses who died in the service of their country. R.Tait McKenzie, a sculptor and physician, designed a bronze memorial featuring the draped figure of a graceful woman with hands extended to show a nurse’s readiness to serve. An inscription states, “To Jane A. Delano and the 296 nurses who died in the War–1917-1918.”
The memorial is located in Red Cross Square, at 430 17th St NW, in Washington, D.C. We invite you to take a moment on your next trip to our nation’s capital to visit and reflect on this remarkable woman and her dedicated colleagues.
90% of the work of the Red Cross is done by volunteers. Nurses and other health professionals serve as clinicians, educators, leaders and more. Use our volunteer role finder to explore opportunities in your community.
