Nursing at war: catalyst for change.

From the first development of nursing research agendas, scholars have called for historical inquiries into nursing's heritage and the influences that have affected the development of the profession. Because war leaves an indelible and distinct mark on the era in which it occurs, periods of significant development and change in nursing's heritage can be linked to involvement in war. This review explores the published scholarship about American nurses in wartime, from the War for Independence through the Persian Gulf War and notes the most significant changes that have come as a result of this involvement. Although particular wars and wartime nursing is a popular topic for historical inquiry, there are still eras that need to be further explored for contributions to the profession of nursing as it is today.