Considering the "Bitter Rivalry" Within the Context of European and Colonial History of Women Healers.

Polarized opinion among nurses regarding two 19th century nurses is damaging in its divisiveness. The nursing works of Nightingale and Seacole in the 19th century are presented within the context of European and Colonial history involving the rise to power of the medical profession, the decline of women healers, and the beginning of professional nursing in an effort to understand the factors contributing to the polarization. A Supplemental Digital Content video abstract is available at http://links.lww.com/ANS/A55 .