title: The risk of not understanding nursing history.
abstract: Studying nursing history allows nurses to understand more fully problems currently affecting the profession, such as pay, regulation, shortage, education, defining practice, autonomy, and unity. Present day nurses cannot effectively address these important issues without a foundation of historical knowledge. In short, examining history allows nurses to more fully appreciate their important role in the health care system of the United States. This appreciation can provide nurses with important political strength.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ogren
mesh_terms: D018166:Health Care Reform; D006663:Historiography; D006676:History of Nursing; D006801:Humans; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D014481:United States