According to Susan Reverby's Ordered to Care, the most salient fact

Question

﻿According to Susan Reverby's  Ordered to Care , the most salient fact about the occupation of nursing has been its traditional conceptualization by both the public and medical professionals as women's work, a judgment that has had a dramatic impact both on the nature of the tasks nurses perform and on the status of the profession. Reverby demonstrates how this ideology of nursing grew, not out of a belief in women's rights but from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understandings of womanly character and duty.

Before 1870, nursing took place either in the home, where women nursed their loved ones as part of their familial obligations, or in hospitals, which were custodial institutions for the poor. Despite the differences in the settings, women in each of these roles were assumed to be  "naturals"  for the job, so hospital nurses were paid wages whose meagerness suggested money's irrelevance to the true character of nursing.

Even after 1870, when scientific and medical advances hastened the development of nursing as skilled paid labor, the ideology concerning nursing changed very little. True, leaders in nursing education advocated professionalism: being a woman was necessary, but not sufficient, for nursing. They envisioned the establishment of strict training schools, controlled by women, to teach the elements of health care that were no longer attended to by the rapidly specializing physician. They were pleased to be aided in their efforts by hospital administrators and doctors, who understood that the movement to upgrade and standardize nursing education would support their own plans for reforming medicine.

But the goals of the three groups, Reverby argues, were radically divergent. Hospital administrators realized that training schools attached to their own institutions could become sources of cheap and malleable labor. Doctors saw nursing education as a way of improving care in the hospital, but they opposed any move to bolster nurses' control of their own labor or to improve their scientific skills, arguing that nurses should remain submissive and nurturing. As hospital exigencies quickly came to dominate the decision-making process in the training schools, nursing educators lost control over admission standards, the quality of education, and the labor of students on the wards.   1 
﻿ 1. The information in the passage suggests that Susan Reverby would be most likely to DISAGREE with which of the following statements about nursing education?

A. Nursing education in the nineteenth century dramatically changed the ideology of nursing.
B. Nursing education did not significantly affect the professional relationship between nurses and doctors. 
C. Hospital exigencies limited the autonomy of nurses in relation to doctors.
D. Hospital administrators hoped that standardized nursing education would promote their own goals.
E. Prior to 1870, there was no formal education for nurses because women were assumed to be naturally capable of the work.

2 
﻿ 2. Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage?

A. The ideology of nursing as a profession has been informed by a commitment to women's rights.
B. Conflicts between leaders in nursing education and hospital administrators prevented the professionalization of nursing.
C. Traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing.
D. Doctors did not recognize nurses as professionals because the nursing school curriculum was too general.
E. Scientific and medical advances of the late nineteenth century had little effect on the practice of nursing.

3 
 ﻿3. According to the passage, the ideology of nursing has determined

A. the settings in which nursing actually occurs
B. twentieth-century notions of female character and duty
C. the status of the nursing profession
D. the goals of doctors and hospital administrators
E. the role of women in different branches of medicine

4 
 ﻿4. The word "naturals" (see highlighted text) is used primarily in order to

A. suggest Susan Reverby's view of the appropriateness of women for the occupation of nursing 
B. point to the irrelevance of women's rights for nurses
C. explain the interest of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century women in nursing as a profession
D. differentiate the role of women as nurses in the home from the role of women as nurses in hospitals
E. emphasize the importance for nursing ideology of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century notions of womanly character and duty

Sajjad1994 · Accepted Answer

Explanation

1. The information in the passage suggests that Susan Reverby would be most likely to DISAGREE with which of the following statements about nursing education?

A.  This statement is disagreed by Susan Reverby because the passage suggests that the ideology of nursing, rooted in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century perceptions of womanly character and duty, did not dramatically change despite some changes in nursing education. The underlying view of nursing as women's work remained relatively constant. Keep it.

B.  This is supported by the passage.

C.  This statement is supported by the passage. The passage mentions that hospital exigencies quickly came to dominate the decision-making process in the training schools, resulting in a loss of control by nursing educators. Therefore, Reverby would likely agree with this statement.

D.  This statement is supported by the passage. The passage indicates that hospital administrators were pleased to support the movement to upgrade and standardize nursing education, aligning with their goals, and seeing it as a source of cheap and malleable labor.

E.  While the passage does mention that nursing took place in homes and hospitals before 1870 and that women were assumed to be "naturals" for the job, it does not explicitly address the absence of formal education during that period. The focus of the passage is more on the evolving nature of nursing education after 1870.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. The word "naturals" (see highlighted text) is used primarily in order to

Explanation

A.  While the word  "naturals"  does convey the idea of women being considered appropriate for nursing, the passage does not provide evidence to suggest that this term reflects Susan Reverby's personal view. Instead, it emphasizes the historical understanding of women's appropriateness for nursing roles.

B.  The word  "naturals"  does not specifically address the relevance or irrelevance of women's rights for nurses. It is more about the perceived natural suitability of women for nursing roles based on traditional ideologies.

C.  The use of  "naturals"  does not directly explain the interest of women in nursing as a profession. It is more about societal assumptions regarding women's inherent suitability for nursing tasks.

D.  The term  "naturals"  is not used to differentiate the roles of women as nurses in different settings. Instead, it highlights a common assumption about women's suitability for nursing roles, whether in the home or in hospitals.

E.   This is the correct answer. The term  "naturals"  is used to emphasize the influence of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century notions of womanly character and duty on the ideology of nursing. It suggests that the perception of women as  "naturals"  for nursing is rooted in historical understandings of womanhood during that period.

In summary, option E is the correct answer because it accurately captures the contextual use of the word "naturals" in the passage, emphasizing its connection to historical notions of womanly character and duty.

Answer: E

Examor · Answer

1: C. Hospital exigencies limited the autonomy of nurses in relation to doctors.

The passage discusses how hospital exigencies (pressures and demands) led to nurses losing control over various aspects of their education and labor, which implies a limitation of autonomy in relation to doctors.

2: C. Traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing.

The central idea of the passage is that traditional notions of nursing as women's work, rooted in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understandings of womanly character and duty, had a significant impact on the ideology of nursing and its professional development.

3: C. the status of the nursing profession

The passage discusses how the ideology of nursing, shaped by traditional gender roles and beliefs, has had a dramatic impact on the status of the nursing profession.

4: A. suggest Susan Reverby's view of the appropriateness of women for the occupation of nursing

The word "naturals" in the passage is used to suggest Susan Reverby's view that women were considered naturally suitable for nursing due to traditional gender roles and beliefs. It highlights her perspective on the appropriateness of women for the nursing profession.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

﻿2. Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage?

Explanation

A.  This option is incorrect. The passage explicitly states that the ideology of nursing did not grow out of a belief in women's rights but rather from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understandings of womanly character and duty.

B.  This option is not the central idea of the passage. While conflicts are discussed, the central theme is how traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of nursing ideology, not conflicts preventing professionalization.

C.   This option correctly captures the central idea of the passage. The passage discusses the traditional conceptualization of nursing as women's work and emphasizes how these traditional ideas hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing.

D.  This option is not supported by the passage. The passage mentions that doctors opposed moves to bolster nurses' control of their own labor or to improve their scientific skills, but it does not suggest that the curriculum being too general is the reason for doctors not recognizing nurses as professionals.

E.  This option is also not supported by the passage. The passage acknowledges scientific and medical advances after 1870 and their impact on the development of nursing as skilled paid labor. The main point, however, is that despite these advances, the traditional ideology of nursing persisted.

In summary, option C aligns most closely with the central theme of the passage, emphasizing how traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. According to the passage, the ideology of nursing has determined

Explanation

A.  This option is not the primary focus of the passage. While the passage mentions that nursing took place in the home and in hospitals, the primary emphasis is on the traditional conceptualization of nursing as women's work and its impact on the nature of tasks and the status of the nursing profession.

B.  The passage does not specifically address twentieth-century notions. Instead, it emphasizes the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understandings of womanly character and duty that influenced the ideology of nursing. The focus is on historical perspectives.

C.   This option aligns with the central theme of the passage. The passage emphasizes that the traditional conceptualization of nursing as women's work has had a dramatic impact on the status of the nursing profession, shaping its development and professionalization.

D.  While the passage discusses the goals of doctors and hospital administrators in relation to nursing education, the primary focus is on how the traditional ideology of nursing influenced these goals, not on determining the goals themselves.

E.  This option is not the primary emphasis of the passage. The passage discusses the traditional conceptualization of nursing as women's work and its impact on the nursing profession but does not extensively explore the role of women in different branches of medicine.

In summary,  option C , "the status of the nursing profession," is the most directly supported by the passage as it aligns with the central theme of how the ideology of nursing has shaped the nature of tasks performed by nurses and influenced the status and development of the nursing profession.

Answer: C

Usernamevisible · Answer

My doubt about Q2, Option C:

C. Traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing

I understand that the passage says the ideology of nursing grew... from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understandings of womanly character and duty and that the ideology concerning nursing changed very little even after 1870.

However, I don't see where the passage says that these traditional ideas "hindered" the evolution of nursing ideology.

To me, the passage seems to establish:

Traditional ideas > were the source/origin of the nursing ideology > the ideology changed very little over time

But that does not necessarily mean:
Traditional ideas > hindered the evolution/change of the ideology

It seems like unsupported cause effect

@gmatninja @karishmaB @martymurray @egmat

guddo · Answer

﻿ 2. Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage?

The passage explains that nursing was traditionally viewed as  women’s work , based on ideas that women were naturally nurturing and dutiful. Even when nursing became more skilled and formalized after 1870,  this traditional ideology continued to limit nurses’ professional status, autonomy, and education .

(A) The ideology of nursing as a profession has been informed by a commitment to women's rights.

Incorrect. The passage explicitly says the ideology grew  not  from a belief in women’s rights, but from traditional ideas about women’s character and duties.

(B) Conflicts between leaders in nursing education and hospital administrators prevented the professionalization of nursing.

Too narrow. This conflict is discussed in the final paragraph, but the passage has a broader focus: traditional ideas about women’s work limited nursing both before and after 1870.

(C) Traditional ideas about women's work hindered the evolution of the ideology of nursing.

Correct.   The passage shows that even as nursing became skilled paid labor, traditional beliefs that nurses should be naturally caring, submissive, and nurturing prevented the ideology of nursing from changing substantially.

(D) Doctors did not recognize nurses as professionals because the nursing school curriculum was too general.

Incorrect. Doctors opposed greater nursing autonomy and scientific training because they wanted nurses to remain submissive and nurturing, not because the curriculum was too general.

(E) Scientific and medical advances of the late nineteenth century had little effect on the practice of nursing.

Incorrect. These advances helped turn nursing into skilled paid labor and encouraged formal training. What changed little was the  ideology  surrounding nursing, not its practice.

Answer: (C)

egmat · Answer

Hi Usernamevisible,

You've actually read the passage very carefully, and your chain (traditional ideas - source of the ideology - ideology changed very little) is exactly right. The one move you're missing is that the passage doesn't just show  persistence  - it shows a force  pushing for change  that the traditional ideas held back. That resistance is the "hinder."

Look at where the passage sets up a would-be evolution:

- After  1870 , "scientific and medical advances  hastened the development of nursing as skilled paid labor ."
- "Leaders in nursing education  advocated professionalism " and "envisioned strict training schools,  controlled by women ."

So there  was  a real push toward nursing becoming an autonomous, skilled profession. Yet "the ideology concerning nursing  changed very little ." Something stood in the way of that evolution - and the passage names it: the old idea of nursing as women's natural, nurturing duty.

Watch it actively block progress:

- Doctors "opposed any move to bolster nurses' control of their own labor or to improve their scientific skills,  arguing that nurses should remain submissive and nurturing ."
- Before  1870 , wages were kept meager to suggest " money's irrelevance to the true character of nursing ."

That's the difference between "source of" and "hindered." A source that then  actively keeps something from developing  is a hindrance. The traditional ideology isn't just where the ideology came from - it's what kept nursing from evolving into the professional, self-controlled field the reformers wanted.

Quick parallel to feel it:  "Despite new training and better tools, the shop's old 'the boss decides everything' culture kept it from becoming a modern workplace."  The old culture is both the  origin  of how the shop runs  and  the thing  holding back  its evolution. Same structure here - which is why  C  captures the central idea.

Answer: C

According to Susan Reverby's Ordered to Care, the most salient fact

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According to Susan Reverby's Ordered to Care, the most salient fact

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