s here were enlisted men. Better quarters were reserved for sick and wounded officers. Most of the hospitals had bad ventilation, no provisions for bathing, and no dead house. Some of them had decaying wood and old carpets that were not removed. Kitchens and washrooms were described as cold, damp, dirty, and full of vile odors from wounds. The nurses quarters were not much better. Nurses would often work from 6am to 1am. These miserable accommodations combined with overworked and under qualified staff made hospital conditions adverse to patient welfare and therefore unsuitable for either dispensing or receiving treatment. The Sanitary Commission finally investigated and recommended reforms.The work of the army nurses dramatically changed public perceptions about women in medicine. It helped to introduce female personnel into responsible roles in a traditionally male military environment. This was a big step in the progression of women toward more involvement in American society. Nursing changed rapidly after the war, few women remained in the profession. Some became physicians. Clara Barton, who was a civil war nurse, founded the American Red Cross. In 1868, Dr. Samuel Gross, President of the American Medical Association, strongly endorsed the development of nurses training, and therefore many training schools were founded after the Civil War....
