WWII and the Nursing Profession

Paper Summary:

The attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States? involvement in World War II changed the face of women in society, and the nursing profession, in particular, forever. This paper explains that women were recognized as having just as vital a role to play in their nation?s defense as the men, and as a result, nursing was taken quite seriously as a profession. It shows how standards were implemented with regards to expectation and training, and nurses were trained to be pseudo-doctors, performing many of the same tasks as did the male doctors with whom they worked. It concludes that, as a result, society had a more enhanced perception of nursing as a valued profession because of these women?s actions during the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and during the war.

From the Paper:

"The events of Pearl Harbor and other events during the course of World War II played a large role in helping to change the country's perception of nurses. These dedicated women were now taken more seriously and, as a result, the environment in which nurses learned and worked changed. At the time Pearl Harbor was attacked, the United States was facing a serious shortage of nurses. President Franklin Roosevelt issued a call for more nurses, and the military, in an effort to help fulfill the country's need, responded by offering programs designed to induce women to join the military and become nurses. One of the most successful programs, although not a military program per se, was the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. From here, women often went on to join the military as nurses and served with great distinction."

More papers on WWII and the Nursing Profession:

• Research Proposal # 54859 : "Stress and the Nursing Profession"
• Essay # 89871 : "Image of the Nursing Profession "
• Essay # 47336 : "The Nursing Profession"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: