History and Impact of Nursing in the United States

Nursing in the Early Years

• Nurses provided care to revolutionary soldiers in private homes.
• The role and valor of nurses recognized during the Civil War.
  • Notable figures: Dorothy Ad Dick, Clara Barton, Maryanne Bickerdike.
  • African-American women also volunteered; notable figures include Susie King Taylor, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth.

Institutional Developments

• Formation of Army and Navy Nurse Corps and American Red Cross expanded global presence.
• New nurse training programs enhanced skills for serving military personnel.

Contribution in Wars

• Spanish-American War: Ellen Tower, first nurse to die on foreign soil.
• World Wars I & II:
  • Thousands served globally, risking and sacrificing lives.
  • Attacks on hospitals and captures of nurses noted.
  • Over 400 nurses died in these wars.
• Continued service in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq.

Public Health Contributions

• Visiting nurses improved public health by working in disease-ridden tenements and slums.
• Lillian Wald and Mary Brewster pioneered services at the Henry Street Settlement House.

Nursing as Social Progress

• Lavinia Doc:
  • Suffragist, writer, and advocate for women's rights.
  • Highlighted the role of nurses as agents of social progress.

Role in Disaster Relief

• Crucial roles in disaster response, e.g., post-Hurricane Gulf Coast care.
• Nurses often choose personal hardship to provide care rather than evacuate.

Global Humanitarian Efforts

• American nurses participate in international medical relief.
• Volunteering globally to improve health outcomes.

The Spirit and Impact of Nursing

• Nursing combines a desire to care for individuals and improve lives.
• Offers variety, flexibility, and opportunities for advancement.

Career and Future of Nursing

• Nursing is both personally satisfying and financially rewarding.
• Demand for nurses remains high and is expected to continue.
• Provides opportunities to make a tangible impact on individuals' lives daily.