Nursing in the 8th Evacuation Hospital, 1942-1945

This article describes the experiences of Army nurses in the University of Virginia sponsored 8th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. In addition, it examines gender and role differences within the Army Medical Department, and how nurses' contributions helped shape the profession. This research used traditional historical methods of inquiry to include both primary and secondary sources of information. Primary sources include newspaper clippings, letters, citations, and photographs from the archival collections of the 8th Evacuation Hospital located in the University of Virginia Historical Collections and Services, Charlottesville, VA, and journal articles from that period. Secondary sources consisted of bibliographical and historical texts. Evidence suggests that advances in the chain-of-evacuation, antibiotics, dissemination of blood products, and nurses' expanded roles all contributed to increased survival of the wounded. Nurses' performance garnered an enduring respect from combatants who received care, as well as the medical officers and enlisted personnel with whom they worked on a daily basis. Collaboration, mutual respect, and coordinated teamwork were critical for mission success. Army nurses demonstrated that they had the mettle to go into a war zone and perform in an exemplary manner.