We would be remiss not to highlight Women’s History Month—after all, nursing’s history is intrinsically tied to women’s history. As women became more independent, so too did nursing. And it’s important to acknowledge our history of contributions to shaping this country’s health care system. As I note in a March 2015 editorial:

“The story of nursing continues to be one of social commitment, innovation, and problem solving. It legitimizes and supports our inclusion on governing boards and our presence at policymaking tables. It can infuse each of us with pride and energy for the work we do.”

One hundred and nineteen years of archives.

Linda Richards, first American trained nurse

AJN has 119 years of archives documenting nursing’s legacy (all free to read for subscribers). To mark Women’s History Month, each Friday this month we are highlighting an archive article and making it free until April 1. Today we’re sharing “Recollections of a Pioneer Nurse,” which was published in January 1903 (click through to the PDF version for the best version).

First trained nurse in the United States.

The article was written by Linda Richards (1841-1940), considered the first trained nurse in the United States. It’s a vivid first-person account of her experiences in nursing at the turn of the century, and also chronicles her meeting with Florence Nightingale. Richards went on to lead and transform nursing at several hospitals, according to the American Association for the History of Nursing:

“Richards accepted a position as night superintendent at the newly established Bellevue Training School (New York City), which was the first Nightingale model training school in the United States. In 1874 she returned to Boston as superintendent of the Boston Training School. In this position she encountered physician opposition to the training of nurses. She provided strong leadership, developing a program of regular classroom instruction, instead of occasional lectures by physicians.”

A founder of the first professional organization for nurses.

Richards also became the founding president of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools, the first professional organization for nurses.