Highlights In The History Of The Army Nurse Corps

Throughout its history, the Army Nurse Corps has evolved as a world-class center of excellence for military nursing and a bench mark for caring for the entire nursing community. Army nurses have remained at the forefront of change, providing leadership in integrating nursing research and nursing education into clinical practice. Today, we continue the legacy of a proud heritage by maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in nursing and in military service. Our professional evolution reflects not only the changing requirements of a progressive Army, but also our expanding roles in supporting the health care needs of our nation. While endeavoring to meet the contemporary challenges posed by changes in the military mission, organizational structures, technological advances, and increased services, we have kept our commitment to support the health care needs of the soldier, the family, and other beneficiaries. Our past has prepared us to meet the challenges of today and validates our potential for meeting the health care challenges of the future. The global nature of our mission provides Army nursing the unique opportunity to serve both country and humanity. These highlights of our past provide testimony to our heritage and our professional contributions to the Army Medical Department, the Army, and the nation. It is these very contributions of each member of the Corps that demonstrate that Army nurses not only serve proudly but are leaders in caring as they serve. This publication chronicles the major events in the proud history of the Army Nurse Corps. Although it is not intended as an analysis of historical events, it highlights the major milestones in the evolution of the Corps. The notable contributions of Corps members and their colleagues to military and civilian nursing practice, education, administration, and research are recorded. Legislation and other significant events that effected changes in the history of the Corps are mentioned. Emphasis is placed on the continuing efforts of the Corps to provide high-quality nursing care to soldiers, their families, and retired military and their dependents in time of peace and war and in the carrying out of humanitarian missions. Although not every Corps member is mentioned, all the entries reflect the proud heritage of the Corps and provide ideas for scholarly historical research. History provides a basis for the present and direction for the future. At the present time, numerous changes in the military and the worldwide community are creating new and complex challenges for the Corps. Chiefs of the Army Nurse Corps, past and present, have provided professional and committed leadership to prepare us for these challenges.

Throughout its history, the Army Nurse Corps has evolved as a world-class center of excellence for military nursing and a bench mark for caring for the entire nursing community. Army nurses have remained at the forefront of change, providing leadership in integrating nursing research and nursing education into clinical practice. This publication chronicles the major events in the proud history of the Army Nurse Corps. It highlights the major milestones in the evolution of the Corps. Emphasis is placed on the continuing efforts of the Corps to provide high-quality nursing care to soldiers, their families, and retired military and their dependents in time of peace and war and in the carrying out of humanitarian missions. All the entries reflect the proud heritage of the Corps and provide ideas for scholarly historical research.

This chronology records significant milestones in the history of Army nursing from the Revolutionary War through the present. Appendixes highlight specific individual achievements and list memorials to the Army Nurse Corps.