Historical Research Methods: Telling the Stories of

New Orleans Nursing History

Deborah Garbee PhD, APRN, BC

&

Dianna Hutto Douglas DNS APRN-CNS

Historical Research Defined

Integrated Written Record of Past

that Weaves in Multiple Factors e.g.

Social, Political, & Economic

Probing for Explanations &

Relationships , Effects or Trends

Purpose is to Understand the Past

to Explain the Present or Future

Historical Research Traditions

Positivistic

Attempt to categorize information

and show cause-effect

Idealist

Try to Understand Thoughts of

Individuals in an Event Along with

Time, Place, and Situation

Historical Design Define the Study Topic or Focus

There May be a Hypotheses, Questions,

or Theoretical Orientation

Climate of the Time Period

ROL, Major Works on Topic

Identify Themes and Ambiguities

Formulate Questions

Organize Data (Full Reference,

Archive and/or Library)

Data Collection Primary Sources

Personal Letters Diaries Organizational

Records Photographs

Secondary Sources Newspaper Journal articles Textbooks

Archives Unpublished Material, Records,

Manuscripts, Papers

Finding Aids

Collections, Record Group,

Series, Subseries

Linear Cubic Feet

On-site Use Only

Pencil & Paper Only

Confirming Sources

Genuineness

Authenticity

External Criticism

Internal Criticism

Corroborating Evidence

Data Analysis Based on Questions, Themes,

and Conceptual Framework

Discover New Truths

Researcher Bias & Other Bias

Bias

Researcher Bias Identified

Present-Mindedness

Ideological Bias

Ethical Issues

Right to Privacy v.

Right to Know

Infringement on

Historical

Reputation

Interpretation

Researchers Tell the Story

Explain What, How and Why

Explore Relationships

Historical Research Voice

Creatively Render Events,

Findings, & Supporting Ideas

Plan the Story Using Themes

Weave Together Historical Facts

Go Beyond Facts

Develop New Knowledge, Ideas,

and Meanings

Example

Evolving Standards for Nursing

Curriculum and Nursing

Faculty in Louisiana

1920-1950

Research Questions

How did Louisiana, New Orleans specifically,

respond to national calls for nursing reform?

What changes were made to nursing school

curricula at Charity Hospital School of Nursing

(CHSN) in New Orleans?

Primary Sources

CHSN reports to Committee on Grading of

Nursing Schools (Jan. & Oct., 1932)

National League of Nursing Education

(NLNE) Facts About Your School (1935,

1939, 1943, & 1945)

Secondary Sources Goldmark Report, Nursing and Nursing

Education in the United States (1923) Nursing Schools Today and Tomorrow

(Committee on the Grading of Nursing Schools, 1934)

CHSN Yearbooks

Caps and Capes (1938, 1942, & 1950) CHSN Bulletin (1958-1959) Louisiana State University (LSU) Register

(1940-1941) LSU Bulletin (1942-1943).

National Calls for Reform

Improve Nursing School Curriculum

Without Duplication of Learning

Improve Faculty Qualifications to Teach

at a School of Nursing with College

Graduates as Faculty

Eliminate Non-Nursing Duties

National Themes Free Labor, A Win-Lose Situation

Anyone Can Teach – Raising the Bar for

Nursing Faculty

Folding Linen, Washing Lettuce, &

Cleaning Bathrooms

Local Perspective“Story”

Nursing N’Awlins Style

Sister Servants, CHSN Faculty

Snapshot

Nursing Students: White Caps, White

Stockings, & White Shoes

Discussion CHSN Similar to Nursing Schools Across America

Students Worked Long Hours A non-nurse board Same Person over Hospital Nursing Service &

SON CHSN Ahead of Other Nursing Schools

Staff Performed Non-Nursing Duties Large, Varied Patient Population Increased Number of Graduate Nurses at Bedside Presence of BSN Ed Students.

Regardless of hard work, CHSN Students Seemed

to Love Their Experience.

Conclusions So what?

Efforts to professionalize and improve nursing

image & education continues today.

The image of clinging to an instructors skirt the

first day on a nursing unit rings true today in that

students are innocent & young.

Just as nurses before us, nursing faculty do not

want to sacrifice what we perceive as quality

education in the process of reform.

What Topic do you

Want to Research

from New Orleans

Nursing History?

References Glesne, C. (1999). Becoming Qualitative

Researchers An Introduction. (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.

Kyvig, D.E. & Marty, M.A. (2000). Nearby History. (2nd ed.). Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press.

Speziale, H.J. & Carpenter, D.R. (2007). Qualitative Research in Nursing Advancing the Humanistic Imperative.

(4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.