The Changing Fortunes of Nurses: From Respect to Redemption

In her book "Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and its Power to Change the World," author Sarah DiGregorio explores the history of nursing and how nurses were once revered as experts and authority figures in ancient civilizations. However, the opening of new medical schools in Europe during the Middle Ages pushed women out of medicine and healthcare. Florence Nightingale, while credited with reviving the importance of nurses, also perpetuated the idea of nurses as subordinate to physicians. Racism in nursing has persisted throughout history, with racial disparities and discrimination still affecting non-white nurses today.