Nursing History for Contemporary Role Development

Book excerpt: Underscores the importance of viewing current nursing issues in the context of history Nursing practice has progressed beyond Florence Nightingale, and so has nursing history. This book delves into the intricacies of nursing history and its impact on contemporary nursing practice, education, and research. Nurses have always been political advocates for underprivileged and vulnerable populations during times of war, changing cultural landscapes, and social unrest. Today is no different. With historically significant case studies that ground the narrative, this book weaves the complex story of how the role of nurses has changed over time to adapt to new environments and needs, all the while retaining the key leadership and advocacy roles that have been inherent since the birth of the profession. Chapters examine key issues in contemporary nursing today, such as the care of diverse populations, rural health care, mental health care, neonatal health care, the nurse educator role, entry into practice issues, and more, and contextualize their evolution, showing what remains tried and true, what has been disproven, and what remains to be examined. The text illustrates how nursing history fits into the broader context of culture and society from the late 19th century to the present. Each chapter features critical thinking questions and extensive resources for all levels of nursing education. An accompanying instructor’s manual features guidelines for bringing historical elements into nursing curricula. Key Features: Embeds historical material into contemporary nursing practice, education, and research issues Demonstrates how contemporary nursing roles and issues evolved throughout history Includes numerous case studies from expert nursing historians Addresses the intersection of gender, race, and ethnicity as they impact health care today