Pivotal Moments in Nursing: Leaders Who Changed the Path of a Profession Beth P. Houser and Kathy N. Player 2004, 286 pp $29.95 softcover

Each chapter of this book tells the story of a nurse who stepped forward to take on issues and challenges to further the nursing profession. Each of the 12 nurses profiled followed his or her own path and affected a developing profession. Some of the nurses profiled include Faye Glen Abdellah, who is recognized as a pioneer in nursing research; Sue Karen Donaldson, who was a driving force being the growth of doctoral programs in nursing; and Loretta C. Ford, who pioneered the first pediatric nurse practitioner role.

Each nurse leader is profiled with a personal, educational, and work history. The authors identify the challenges these leaders faced and the leadership qualities that helped them meet and beat these challenges. Each person’s persistence, passion, and caring about the essence of the nursing profession is explored.

The authors are recognized leaders in the nursing world who have taken the time to research the history of nursing and share their research with nurses who know that they must understand where nursing has been to understand where it is going. They give readers a glimpse into the nursing world that many nurses today are not old enough to remember–before nurse practitioners, before nursing research, before practice was related to outcomes, and before nurses were recognized as leaders anywhere but among themselves.

The value of this book will be apparent to nurses who are new to the nursing world and those who have been nurses for years. All nurses should remember the people who have led nursing to where it is–a respected profession that is still growing and proving itself.