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PHS Nurse CoinNurses: I’m pleased to announce the arrival of the inaugural PHS Nurse coin. The coin is representative of the rich history of Public Health Service Nursing and is designed to symbolically display the work that nurses do to support the mission of the Public Health Service. I have personally used the coin as a way to bring attention and visibility to PHS nursing. I’m pleased to say that both the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Surgeon General are proud owners of the PHS Nurse Coin that serves as a reminder of the support of their colleagues in the nursing profession. Displaying the coin is a visible way to show your support and demonstrate your pride and esprit de corps as a PHS nurse. I encourage you to consider displaying the coin as a unifying symbol of PHS nursing. Carol A. Romano, PhD, RN, FAAN Design of the PHS Nurse Coin*
Historically, coins were used in the uniformed services to “prove” membership in a particular military organization or unit and have its roots in the system of heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the display of symbols and devices to identify individuals or families. Symbols and devices are used to represent the unique aspects of an organization for which it is designed. The PHS Nurse Coin reflects the rich history of the Public Health Service (PHS) and is designed to symbolically display the work that nurses do to support the mission of the Public Health Service. Nursing in the Public Health Service is represented by the head’s side of the coin. Symbols and colors of the PHS Nurse Coin embody the purpose and history of nurses in the Public Health Service. The blue background represents constancy, justice, loyalty, and devotion. The light and the lamp are ancient symbols of knowledge and learning and are imposed over the seal of the PHS. The words administration, investigation, education and practice indicate the various fields in which nurses in public health practice. HHS at the bottom of the coin serves to remind us that regardless of our practice setting, we all contribute to the mission of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The tail’s side of the PHS Nurse Coin features the PHS seal and the year it was created, 1798. How to obtain a PHS Nurse Coin History of Military Coins |
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