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How did you become interested in the
history of nursing?
My interest piqued while working in Latin America.
I was working for the Pan American Health Organization
on a curriculum revision for the Belize School of Nursing.
I needed a history, just a few introductory words to
introduce the revision. I found that no one had a history
to contribute except for personal narratives. That was
when I decided to do my own historical research.
At that time, I realized my background in history was
insufficient, so I had to go back and take history courses.
That was a significant point, when I decided to go forward
and concentrate on the historical perspectives.
What is the importance of studying
the history of nursing and is it included in most curricula?
"Connecting the past with the present allows us
to catch a glimpse of the future." History expands
one's thinking, professional courage and identity. It
brings cohesiveness to everyday occurrences. All nurses
need to make a practice of looking for the antecedents.
Much like the nurse takes a patient history for information,
the nurse needs to look at previous "baggage"
to appreciate sensitivity to contextual variables and
perspective. They need to critically evaluate the information
they receive, encompassing what happens today and what
happened yesterday.
History offers insight into the social pressures of
the past, such as access to health care and the role
of women. Studying history is invaluable. Examining
past epidemics such as TB helps one deal with the resurgences
that we are seeing today, such as AIDS.
The study of the history of nursing has varying degrees
of presence in nursing curricula. However, it is becoming
more prevalent in the master's and doctorate levels.
The American Association for the History of Nursing
completed a survey of all graduate nursing programs
and found that less than 50 percent of those responding
had a dedicated course on the history of nursing.
What do you see as milestones or critical
times in the history of nursing?
The economic depression of the 1930s was a critical
time. Prior to this time, only a few nurses were hired
into hospitals. The rest did private duty as semi-independent
practitioners. They had their own cases and went into
the home to work. With the Depression, hospitals began
to employ nurses but, with this, nurses lost control
over their practice. Interestingly, we are now back
where there are a number of independent practitioners,
as it was before the depression.
World War II was another pivotal time. That was when
the standards of nursing service were more closely analyzed
and elevated. Nursing education gradually moved into
the universities and nursing students were no longer
"free labor." It was a time of nursing expansion,
and educational opportunities for women increased.
The introduction of the intensive care unit with the
development of new technologies was also a crucial time.
The new technologies demanded skills for nurses to meet
and manage. Prior to this time, advanced education for
nurses concentrated on administration and education.
Starting in the '70s, newer, specialized skills were
needed to meet the technological advances.
What do you think when someone talks
of the era in which "nurses felt like nurses"?
This is a difficult question to answer. I've been in
nursing a long time and I still feel like a nurse. Although
I have grown personally and professionally, I still
see myself as a nurse.
Patients are sicker and technologies tend to take us
away from patients. We can't make the connections we'd
like. However, that caring, holistic component is still
there and it cannot be taken away.
Are there any other issues that you'd
like to address?
Yes, the American Association for the History of Nursing
should be made known to a wider audience. Our Web site
(www.aahn.org)
offers information on activities, including several
awards for historical research.
We are an American association with international members
and have about 600 members. We actively support the
history of nursing through research education, recognition
and collaboration.
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