What does the caduceus symbol stand for?
The Caduceus is a symbol of Hermes or Mercury in Greek and Roman mythology. Caduceus symbol is identified with thieves, merchants, and messengers, and Mercury is said to be a patron of thieves and outlaws, not a desirable protector of physicians.
Is the caduceus the medical symbol?
The caduceus, a staff with two snakes coiled around it, is the official insignia of the United States Medical Corps, Navy Pharmacy Division, and the Public Health Service.
What does caduceus mean in healthcare?
Medical Definition of caduceus : a medical insignia bearing a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top: a : one sometimes used to symbolize a physician but often considered to be an erroneous representation — compare staff of asclepius.
Can nurses use Caduceus?
Other U.S. medical divisions use the caduceus, including the U.S. Navy Pharmacy Division, U.S. Military Nurses, and the U.S. Public Health Service. Medical doctors, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners have associated this symbol with their profession for centuries.
What is the irony of the Caduceus?
The caduceus, the staff of the Greek messenger god Hermes, has been wrongly used as a medical symbol for a little over one hundred years. It has often been mistaken for the Rod of Asclepius, a visually similar symbol belonging to the god of healing and medicine.
Why does the medical symbol have a snake?
The snake figure was associated with Asclepios, the ancient Greek God of medicine, and possessed benevolent properties. It was believed to be able to cure a patient or a wounded person just by touch. The snake is also connected with pharmacology and antisepsis, as snakes possess an antivenom against their own poison.
What is the official nurse symbol?
The caduceus
The caduceus: the most recognized nursing symbol He was often depicted with a caduceus in his left hand. The caduceus is an odd-looking staff that is entwined by two serpents. Some versions also include a pair of wings at the top of the staff.