Histories of nursing: The power and the possibilities

This article challenges the dominant paradigm of understanding the history of nursing as only that of relative powerlessness. By moving away from the stance of educators deeply concerned about the inability of the profession to gain control over entrance requirements and into the realm of practice, we use examples from our own work to discuss alternate histories of power. We acknowledge historical circumstances of invisibility and gender biases. But we argue that when we look at the history of practice, we see as much evidence of strength, purpose, and successful political action. Finally, we call for an acknowledgement of the rich and complex nature of the many different histories we can tell in nursing. And we suggest that an admitted inability to advance in one area of the discipline has not meant an inability to move in others.