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Introduction profession itself. Her concepts of nursing care
became the basis of modern theory development in
It is often said that you do not know where you are nursing.
going until you know where you have been. Over Lillian Wald, founder of the Henry Street
30 years ago, Beletz (1974) wrote that most people Settlement, is a role model for contemporary com-
thought of nurses in gender-linked, task-oriented munity health nursing. She developed a model for
terms: “a female who performs unpleasant techni- bringing health care to people.
cal jobs and functions as an assistant to the physi- Margaret Sanger, a political activist like many of
cian” (p. 432). Although the image of nurses and the others, is best known for her courageous fight
nursing has advanced considerably since then,some to make birth control information available to
still think of nurses as helpers who carry out the everyone who needed or wanted it. Her fight to
physician’s orders. make Congress aware of the plight of children in
In its history, the nursing profession has had the labor force is less well known but led to impor-
many great leaders. There are several who not only tant changes in the child labor laws. Sanger may
demonstrate the strengths of nursing’s leaders but have been the first nurse lobbyist.
also reflect some of the most important issues that Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first black gradu-
the profession has faced over the past 150 years. ate nurse in the United States. Her professional
Each of these leaders initiated change within the attitude helped to change the status of black nurs-
social environment of the time, using the strategies es in this country.
of change and conflict resolution discussed earlier Mildred Montag proposed having two levels of
in the text. nursing. She developed an associate degree nursing
program at Adelphi University.
Nursing Defined Virginia Henderson was a 20th century
The changes that have occurred in nursing are Florence Nightingale. She wrote the nursing fun-
reflected in the definitions of nursing that have damentals textbook most commonly used by nurse
developed over time.In 1859,Florence Nightingale educators throughout the country for most of the
defined the goal of nursing as putting the client “in last century.
the best possible condition for nature to act upon Many of their characteristics—intelligence,
him” (Nightingale, 1859, p. 79). In 1966, Virginia courage, and foresight—are the same ones needed
Henderson focused her definition on the unique- in today’s nursing leaders.
ness of nursing:
Florence Nightingale
“The unique function of the nurse is to assist the indi-
vidual, sick or well, in the performance of those activ- Background
ities contributing to health or its recovery (or to
Florence Nightingale, an English noblewoman,
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he
was born in the city for which she was named—
had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to
Florence, Italy—on May 12, 1820. Her father was
do this in such a way as to help him gain independ-
a well-educated, wealthy man who put considerable
ence as rapidly as possible” (Henderson, 1966, p. 21).
effort into the education of his two daughters
Martha Rogers defined nursing practice as “the (Donahue, 1985). Florence Nightingale learned
process by which this body of knowledge, nursing French, German, and Italian. Mr. Nightingale per-
science, is used for the purpose of assisting human sonally instructed her in mathematics, classical art,
beings to achieve maximum health within the and literature. The family made extended visits to
potential of each person” (Rogers, 1988, p. 100). London every year, which provided opportunities
Rogers emphasized that nursing is concerned with for contact with people in the highest social circles.
all people, only some of whom are ill. These contacts were very valuable to Nightingale in
Florence Nightingale is probably the best later years.
known of the historic leaders and is considered the Despite her family’s ability to shelter her from
founder of modern nursing. Nightingale brought the meaner side of life, Nightingale always had an
about change in the care of soldiers, the keeping of interest in the welfare of those less fortunate than
hospital records, the status of nurses, and even the herself. She was never quite content with herself, as