I was less than thrilled to begin my MSN with Nursing Theory.
I learned about the feminist theory which addresses continuously evolving social and political ideas to uncover inequality, such as class, religion, and sexuality (McEwen, 2011).
These issues read like modern headlines, but our nursing leaders pioneered this theory long before it was even articulated.
As a relatively modern woman, I have a hard time relating to the subservient role of long ago. But as I learned about our nursing leaders I realized they were far from shrinking violets. I recently read a great article linking nursing leaders to the suffrage movement.
Lillian Wald opposed political and social corruption to improve the health, safety, and well being of humanity. Wald (1915) said, “Without claiming the gift of prophecy, one can foresee that our sins, political and social, must recoil upon the heads of our descendants. We commit ourselves to any wrong or degradation or injury when we do not protest against it.”
Adelaide Nutting was a noted educator, historian, and scholar. She was a strong advocate of university education for nurses. During the great flu pandemic of 1918 and long before our technological advances Nutting (1918) said, “We may have great and imposing buildings, the last word in hygienic and sanitary appliances, dazzling operating rooms and laboratories, but that stricken human being lying there has many needs that none of these can satisfy.”
Lavinia Dock believed poverty was not a moral failure and was adamant the government was responsible for securing the well being of all who lived in America. Dock (1938) said”The hospital of the past was the outcome of humane and ennobling of one’s ideals of service to one’s fellows, and in spite of all the vicissitudes of history which have made it now the engine of the church, the plaything of politics, or the path to fame of the ambitious, or have even been abased it to clear commercial uses.” She also is attributed with saying, “The hospitals in which we work are in a real sense battlefields where men and women and children are fighting for their lives. In their struggle and their dire need of help they have come to us, trusting us to throw our strength and skill in upon their side, to fight with them the unseen enemy.”
Margaret Sanger fought for women to have access to birth control and was arrested eight times. She said, “Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.”
We must follow the example set by these brave pioneers to advocate for our patients and our profession. We advocate politically, using our power to vote. We advocate socially as we support charities with time, money, and effort. We use social resources to bring attention to the plight of those who need help.
Dock, L. L., & Stewart, I. M. (1938). A short history of nursing, from the earliest times to the present day, (4th ed.). New York: G.p. Putnam’s Sons.
Dumpel, H. (2010, September). Nursing, Suffrage, and Social Advocacy. National Nurse, N/A, 16-23.
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Nutting, A. (1918). Apprenticeship to duty. Retrieved fromhttp://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Citation/1918/12000/Apprenticeship_To_Duty.9.aspx
Wald, L. D. (1915). The house on Henry street, . New York: H. Holt and Co..