An Exploration of Early Nurse Writings by Walt Whitman and Susie King Taylor: Beacons of Valor, Compassion, and Service for Contemporary Military Nurses.

Since the American Revolution, early nurse writers have played crucial roles in shaping the nursing profession. Their pioneering roles and writings prioritized patient advocacy through the formal elevation of nurse voices, which called for improvements in patient care through the implementation of practice standards and policy. During the American Civil War, Walt Whitman and Susie King Taylor wrote about tending to injured soldiers: dressing their wounds, honoring their service, and even witnessing their deaths. Due to time, distance, and historical constraints, Whitman and Taylor were not members of the Army Nurse Corps (ANC); however, their actions, narratives, and contributions continue to function as beacons of valor, compassion, and service for those represented in the ANC today. The work of early nurse writers stands resolute in its ability to enrich the historical context of contemporary nursing within the military continuum. Today, the zine is one means of practical and creative expression available to contemporary nurses to achieve that same resolution. This innovative practice can yield ample amounts of primary source material for future generations of nurses to reference. Additionally, it offers limitless potential to build communities among and between Army nursing specialties, fellow nurses in all adjacent military services, and international nursing partners worldwide. While current ANC members actively and creatively annotate their history, research, and experiences, the work of early nurse writers remains a guiding influence as the profession navigates growth, change, and development in future mission assignments during its 125th anniversary year and beyond.