The History and Social Context of
Nursing

• Identify the social, political, and economic factors and trends that
influenced the development of professional nursing in the United
States.
• Describe the influence of Florence Nightingale on the development
of the nursing profession.
• Identify nursing leaders and explain their significance to nursing.
• Describe the development of schools of nursing.
• Explain the role that the military and wars have had on the
development of the nursing profession.
• Describe the struggles and contributions of minorities and men in
nursing.
• Describe nursing’s efforts to manage and improve its image in the
media.
• Evaluate the implications for nursing in a technologically driven era.
• Describe how nursing has reacted to nursing shortages.
• Explain how nursing shortages affect patient outcomes.