African American Nursing History

During World War 2, African American women enlisted within the Navy and Army nursing corps, clearing war casualties and serving as nurses in American and European hospitals.  These African American nurses were initially made to serve in segregated units due to their race; however, demands increased by 1945, and the shortage of nurses often left black nurses caring for soldiers regardless of race (Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund, 2010).