Nursing leadership in the US 1950s-1970s: a discourse analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Studies
• Sociology of Professions
• Discourse Analysis

Background:

• Explores the historical development of nursing leadership and professionalization from the 19th to 20th centuries.
• Focuses on the US nursing profession between the 1950s and 1970s, a key period for leadership concepts.
• Highlights the influence of sociology, psychology, education, and business administration literature on nursing.

Observation:

• Examines leadership as a dynamic process influencing interrelationships, morale, confidence, and achievement.
• Analyzes the perceptions, beliefs, and experiences within the American nursing profession during the mid-20th century.
• Investigates the role of bureaucratic hospital authority in shaping professional identity.

Findings:

• Nursing leadership and professionalization are products of constituent discourses.
• US academic literature significantly impacted nursing leadership discourse in the US, Australia, and the UK.
• Leadership evolved into a complex, dynamic process affecting all aspects of professional life.

Implications:

• Understanding the discourse of leadership is crucial for nursing professionalization.
• The findings offer insights into the historical construction of nursing leadership.
• This analysis provides a framework for examining leadership in other professional contexts.