About the book
In 1925 Mary Breckinridge (1881–1965) founded the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS), a public health organization in eastern Kentucky providing nurses on horseback to reach families who otherwise would not receive health care. Through this public health organization, she introduced nurse-midwifery to the United States and created a highly successful, cost-effective model for rural health care delivery that has been replicated throughout the world.
In this first comprehensive biography of the FNS founder, Melanie Beals Goan provides a revealing look at the challenges Breckinridge faced as she sought reform and the contradictions she embodied. Goan explores Breckinridge’s perspective on gender roles, her charisma, her sense of obligation to live a life of service, her eccentricity, her religiosity, and her application of professionalized, science-based health care ideas. Highly intelligent and creative, Breckinridge also suffered from depression, was by modern standards racist, and fought progress as she aged — sometimes to the detriment of those she served.
Breckinridge optimistically believed that she could change the world by providing health care to women and children. She ultimately changed just one corner of the world, but her experience continues to provide powerful lessons about the possibilities and the limitations of reform.
Editions of Mary Breckinridge
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807832110
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469626390
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890879523
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469606644
Read an Excerpt
In 1925 Mary Breckinridge (1881–1965) founded the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS), a public health organization in eastern Kentucky providing nurses on horseback to reach families who otherwise would not receive health care. Through this public health organization, she introduced nurse-midwifery to the United States and created a highly successful, cost-effective model for rural health care delivery that has been replicated throughout the world.
In this first comprehensive biography of the FNS founder, Melanie Beals Goan provides a revealing look at the challenges Breckinridge faced as she sought reform and the contradictions she embodied. Goan explores Breckinridge’s perspective on gender roles, her charisma, her sense of obligation to live a life of service, her eccentricity, her religiosity, and her application of professionalized, science-based health care ideas. Highly intelligent and creative, Breckinridge also suffered from depression, was by modern standards racist, and fought progress as she aged — sometimes to the detriment of those she served.
Breckinridge optimistically believed that she could change the world by providing health care to women and children. She ultimately changed just one corner of the world, but her experience continues to provide powerful lessons about the possibilities and the limitations of reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mary Breckinridge about?
In 1925 Mary Breckinridge (1881–1965) founded the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS), a public health organization in eastern Kentucky providing nurses on horseback to reach families who otherwise would not receive health care. Through this public health organization, she introduced nurse-midwifery to the United States and created a highly successful, cost-effective model for rural health care delivery that has been replicated throughout the world.
In this first comprehensive biography of the FNS founder, Melanie Beals Goan provides a revealing look at the challenges Breckinridge faced as she sought reform and the contradictions she embodied. Goan explores Breckinridge’s perspective on gender roles, her charisma, her sense of obligation to live a life of service, her eccentricity, her religiosity, and her application of professionalized, science-based health care ideas. Highly intelligent and creative, Breckinridge also suffered from depression, was by modern standards racist, and fought progress as she aged — sometimes to the detriment of those she served.
Breckinridge optimistically believed that she could change the world by providing health care to women and children. She ultimately changed just one corner of the world, but her experience continues to provide powerful lessons about the possibilities and the limitations of reform.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mary Breckinridge?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: science, technology and medicine
Where can I read a sample of Mary Breckinridge?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807832110
How long is Mary Breckinridge and how many pages does it have?
Mary Breckinridge has 360 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mary Breckinridge?
Melanie Beals Goan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Mary Breckinridge is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807832110) and paperback(ISBN 9781469626390) and ebook(ISBN 9798890879523) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606644)
Where can I buy Mary Breckinridge online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Mary Breckinridge?