The nursing legacy of the Korea Sisters

Abstract

Aim: During the Korean War (1950–1953), the Norwegian government sent a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) to support the efforts of the United Nations (UN) Army. During the war, 111 Norwegian nurses served in seven contingents, each 6 month, at the Norwegian Field Hospital in Korea. The nurses were nicknamed “The Korea Sisters”. The aim of this study is to explore the impact and influence of their wartime nursing on Norwegian post-Korean-War nursing. Design: Qualitative. Methods: The study uses several historical research approaches. Interview, archival search, search in nursing periodicals, contemporary magazines and nursing text books. Result: The nursing legacy of The Korea Sisters can be found in changes in general nursing, uniform education of theatre nurses, uniform education of anaesthetist nurses and in humanitarian work.