The Evolution of Nursing as an Academic Discipline in Post-WWII America

Written by Dominique A. Tobbell, Dr. Nurse is a comprehensive analysis of the efforts of American nurses to establish nursing as a valued academic discipline and themselves as respected researchers in the decades following World War II.

As the largest segment of the U.S. healthcare workforce, nurses spend more time with patients than any other healthcare professional. This book delves into the history of nursing to examine the significant changes that have taken place in American healthcare during the second half of the 20th century.

Federal and State Policies Shape Nursing Education

The book reveals how federal and state health and higher education policies have influenced education within health professions since World War II. Specifically, starting in the 1950s, academic nurses sought to construct a distinct science of nursing, separate from biomedical or behavioral sciences, to provide a foundation for nursing practice.

This effort transformed nursing labor into a valuable site of knowledge production, demonstrating how the application of their knowledge is integral to improving patient outcomes.

Negotiating Roles and the Future of Nursing

Dr. Nurse explores the knowledge claims, strategies, and politics involved as academic nurses negotiated their roles and the future of nursing. The book highlights how state-supported health centers have profoundly shaped nursing education and healthcare delivery.

By examining the history of nursing as an academic discipline, Dr. Nurse provides valuable insights into the development of the nursing profession and its ongoing contributions to healthcare in America.

Book Details:

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: December 28, 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9780226822884, 9780226822891