Chapter 1

• Nursing theory became a major theme in the last half of the 20th century, and continues to stimulate phenomenal professional growth globally thru quality improvement, development of nursing literature, and education around the world

  Fawcett, 2016
• The major goal was put forth by the US Congress and nurse leaders early in the 20th century for nursing to developed as a profession.
• The history of nursing clearly documents sustained efforts toward that goal of developing a specialized body of nursing knowledge to guide nursing practice.

  Alligood, 2014, 2018; Bixler & Bixler 1959; Chinn & Kramer, 2018; Im & Chang, 2012; Judd & Sitzman, 2014; McCrae, 2012; Meleis, 2018; Shaw 1993; Tobbell, 2018.