[Pandemic and Epidemic History as Nursing History?]

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Social History of Medicine
• Nursing History

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role of professional nursing.
• Historical research on nursing during past pandemics and epidemics remains significantly underdeveloped.
• This paper emerges from a forum on COVID-19 perspectives in the humanities and social sciences.

Observation:

• A notable gap exists in scholarly literature concerning the history of nursing during epidemic and pandemic events.
• Existing research, particularly in German-speaking regions and internationally, has not extensively documented this crucial aspect of public health history.
• The current global health crisis necessitates a deeper understanding of historical nursing contributions.

Findings:

• This paper provides an overview of current research questions and preliminary results in the nascent field of pandemic nursing history.
• It identifies key areas for future investigation and scholarly inquiry.
• The review highlights the limited but growing body of work in this specialized historical domain.

Implications:

• Establishing a robust field of pandemic nursing history is essential for contextualizing contemporary nursing practice.
• Understanding historical responses can inform strategies for future public health emergencies.
• This research encourages interdisciplinary collaboration to fill the knowledge gap in the social and humanistic study of nursing during crises.