Knowledge of the foundations of the history of nursing gives us incite of where nursing began and its impact in nursing today. This knowledge fosters a better understanding of the challenges/difficulties early nurses faced and what was done so todays nurses do not face those same obstacles. I used Machiavelli’s quote because I feel today’s nurses are “animated by the same passions” (Machiavelli) as our predecessors.

The first trend would be the transition of the nursing profession from a job only military, lay religious orders and undesirables fulfilled, with little or subsidized pay, to the highly recognized and desired profession it is today. Thanks to hard work of woman like Florence Nightingale and so many of the early nurses listed in The Nursing Timeline of Historical Events. “Every woman is a nurse” (Nightingale 1959 pg. 8)

The second trend I feel has an impact on me as an African American nurse. Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first black American professional nurse and pioneer, paved the way for future African American nurses. Mary Mahoney and Mabel Keaton Staupers along with the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses fought to end segregation and restricted membership of African American nurses to state and national nurses association. The NACGN fought for almost 50 years to end the social, economic, and professional injuries inflicted on African-American graduate nurses (Staupers, 1951).

The third trend would be Mildred Montag’s introduction of the Associates Degree Nurse. This transformed nursing education then and now. Her vision to implement different levels of nursing to fill need for nurses during the nursing shortage after World War II. Current demographics reveal that associate degree nursing continues to make a positive impact on the registered nurse population providing almost 60% of entry level graduates each year and