About

North Carolina Nursing History is an educational curation project created and nurtured by retired associate professor and historian of nursing, Dr. Phoebe Ann Pollitt. This website provides a wealth of information about the development of the field of nursing in the state of North Carolina, and also connects researchers to the stores of nursing history knowledge and artifacts that are housed and provided by institutions across the state. The project is now maintained by Appalachian State's Department of Nursing.

Mission Statement

The mission of the North Carolina Nursing History (NCNH) website is to provide an online resource about the history of nursing in the state of North Carolina. We have selected content to be viewed by anyone who has an interest in learning how professional nursing in North Carolina developed from its beginnings to the present day. This website is offered as a tribute to the dedicated service of North Carolina nurses and their contributions to the health and well-being of citizens of this state.

Goals of the Project

There are two primary goals we have for this project:

  • Educate readers about the historical development of nursing in North Carolina through engaging content.
  • Assist scholars with research on North Carolina nursing history by offering primary sources in digital form.

In our efforts to provide a useful educational resource, we are connecting with a broad audience of varying interests and needs. We hope to offer information that appeals to the general public and also meets the expectations of such diverse groups as middle and high school students, college students, university professors, and scholars.

About Dr. Phoebe Pollitt, Nurse Historian

As a nurse, educator, and historian of nursing, Phoebe Pollitt has spent her career studying and celebrating the accomplishments of nurses past and present. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UNC Chapel Hill, Pollitt worked as a home health nurse and as the first school nurse in Watauga County, where she focused on tobacco and teen pregnancy prevention. She went on to earn two master’s degrees and holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction from UNC Greensboro. She is the author of nearly 50 articles, three books, and numerous presentations, many of which tell the stories of North Carolina’s nursing heroes. In 2019, she retired as an associate professor of nursing at Appalachian State University. She lives in Boone.

Learn more about Dr. Pollitt's passion for nursing history.