Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 07:35:32 -0400

From: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA

Subject: Re: nurse / "sister"



In German, the word for nurse is also sister - Schwester or

Krankenschwester (which is interesting, as krank means sick, while the

Czechs place the emphasis on health). I don't know about the origin of the

use of sister, but I would guess that the nun connection is correct. In the

middle ages, the vast majority of hospitals in Europe were run by religious

orders.



in south africa, there are 3 levels of nurse: nurse (lowest), staff

nurse, and (nursing) sister (highest level). i asked my colleague if

he thinks this came from afrikaans, and he says he believes no--that

it's the same in brit english



lynne murphy