Fom ancient battlefield healers to modern ICU warriors, nurses have always stood on the front lines of care—quietly saving lives, comforting the vulnerable, and holding the human spirit together in times of crisis. Yet, their stories often go untold.
In the wake of global health crises, the critical role of nurses has been brought into sharper focus—but their historical and cultural significance remains underrepresented in mainstream media. We have a powerful opportunity to explore their untold stories—from the enslaved women who nursed both Black and white children in early America, to Indigenous medicine women, immigrant nurses shaping modern healthcare, and LGBTQ+ nurses advocating for inclusive care.This isn’t just a story about nursing—it’s about a legacy of resilience and diversity. Nurses have always reflected the communities they serve. Today’s nursing workforce is more diverse than ever, with people of color, men, immigrants, and second-career professionals redefining what it means to be a nurse. But diversity among nurses is not new—it’s simply been overlooked.
Dr. Shelley Burke has seen all of this firsthand and has written about it in her book, The Unsung Heroes. I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Tell us about your book?
From the origin of nursing in antiquity to the celebration of nurses during the worldwide pandemic, The Unsung Heroes: Nurses takes us on an epic trip through time, capturing the era from early American healthcare practices to the modern field of nursing that we know today. From the village shaman who healed the community through herbs and prayers to the nurse practitioner who tends to the sick through science and technology, we discover the heart of the nurse has always been compassion. In this expansive journey through history, we honor the heroes of yesteryear and highlight diverse nurses from marginalized communities. In addition to the more widely known contributions of European and White American nurses, we also discover the lesser-known contributions of African American, Asian American, Indian American, Native American, Hispanic, and Latin American nurses. These living legends fought not only to heal the sick and dying, but they fought against racism, sexism, and classism to be recognized and accepted in their careers. Along with the stories of immigrant, disabled, and male nurses, their powerful work reveals the hard truths of inequality still operating in the world’s most trusted profession.
Through the lens of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, The Unsung Heroes: Nurses is punctuated with the testimonies of nurses who experienced the crisis on the front lines. Their stories illustrate how nurses are not the stereotyped “doctor’s assistants” or “bedpan pushers,” but rather, they are highly trained and educated caretakers who moonlight as social justice warriors, scientific innovators, and global ambassadors. Weaving it all together is myself inviting the reader on the journey. In addition to being a first-time author, I am also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine, and a Registered Nurse, holding my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I guide readers through my childhood dream of becoming a nurse in Guyana, South America, to my adventures in the field after coming to America. Together we discover the heartbeat of healthcare—The Unsung Heroes of our time—the nurses.
What was the most challenging thing about writing it?
The journey of writing this book was tedious and long. I estimated I would finish it in about six months, but it stretched out to a year and a half. I guess that is to be expected when you have a 300 page book! The scope of research to truly showcase the wide array of multicultural nurses that contribute to the healthcare industry was also a major challenge. Even as a nurse who has been in the field for decades, this book taught me about nurses I had never even heard of before! We wanted to make sure to accurately research information that truly reflected each historical and modern figure's history and how they wanted to represent themselves. It was a labor of love. Additionally, for the first-hand testimonials featured in the book, receiving feedback from nurse contributors in a timely manner was yet another challenge I faced. I had to be diligent and quick in my follow-ups with my contacts to keep them engaged and to get the story out.
Why is it important for readers to be aware of the contributions of nurses throughout history?
From the origin of nursing in antiquity to the celebration of nurses during the worldwide pandemic, The Unsung Heroes: Nurses takes us on an epic trip through time, capturing the era from early American healthcare practices to the modern field of nursing that we know today. From the village shaman who healed the community through herbs and prayers to the nurse practitioner who tends to the sick through science and technology, we discover the heart of the nurse has always been compassion. In this expansive journey through history, we honor the heroes of yesteryear and highlight diverse nurses from marginalized communities. In addition to the more widely known contributions of European and White American nurses, we also discover the lesser-known contributions of African American, Asian American, Indian American, Native American, Hispanic, and Latin American nurses. These living legends fought not only to heal the sick and dying, but they fought against racism, sexism, and classism to be recognized and accepted in their careers. Along with the stories of immigrant, disabled, and male nurses, their powerful work reveals the hard truths of inequality still operating in the world’s most trusted profession.
Through the lens of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, The Unsung Heroes: Nurses is punctuated with the testimonies of nurses who experienced the crisis on the front lines. Their stories illustrate how nurses are not the stereotyped “doctor’s assistants” or “bedpan pushers,” but rather, they are highly trained and educated caretakers who moonlight as social justice warriors, scientific innovators, and global ambassadors. Weaving it all together is myself inviting the reader on the journey. In addition to being a first-time author, I am also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine, and a Registered Nurse, holding my Doctorate in Nursing Practice. I guide readers through my childhood dream of becoming a nurse in Guyana, South America, to my adventures in the field after coming to America. Together we discover the heartbeat of healthcare—The Unsung Heroes of our time—the nurses.
What was the most challenging thing about writing it?
The journey of writing this book was tedious and long. I estimated I would finish it in about six months, but it stretched out to a year and a half. I guess that is to be expected when you have a 300 page book! The scope of research to truly showcase the wide array of multicultural nurses that contribute to the healthcare industry was also a major challenge. Even as a nurse who has been in the field for decades, this book taught me about nurses I had never even heard of before! We wanted to make sure to accurately research information that truly reflected each historical and modern figure's history and how they wanted to represent themselves. It was a labor of love. Additionally, for the first-hand testimonials featured in the book, receiving feedback from nurse contributors in a timely manner was yet another challenge I faced. I had to be diligent and quick in my follow-ups with my contacts to keep them engaged and to get the story out.
Why is it important for readers to be aware of the contributions of nurses throughout history?
I see nurses as the unsung heroes of healthcare because we are the caregivers that are giving around-the-clock care to a patient, 24/7, while a doctor may only be in and out of a patient's room for a few minutes. Nurses, to me, are the backbone of the industry and their contributions are massive. Historically, nursing originated as unpaid labor in the family -- typically done by a wife, mother, or a sister. It was certainly not a respected profession back then, but it was vital nonetheless to serving the community. As nursing expanded into the 19th and 20th centuries we saw the emergence of professional organizations such as the American Red Cross (founded by Clara Barton). World War 1 and World War II, ironically, were catalysts for social change because they brought in diverse nurses to fill the drastic need. The U.S. Nurse Army Corps was suddenly forced to desegregate to meet the high demand. Imagine that. It took a war to ignite desegregation in healthcare! Throughout all these eras we saw nurses step up to the plate with great courage, love, and sacrifice to tend to the needs of others. It is truly important for readers to be aware of this.
Even as the modern healthcare industry has advanced in technology, I feel the central work of the nurse is still not fully recognized or appreciated. If you look at many popular television shows, nurses are often not portrayed in ways that truly represent their tremendous skill, education, and professionalism. A nurse might be portrayed instead as a sexy candy striper, a simple 'maidservant' for the doctors, or as a negative, toxic, and frenetic caregiver. Rarely have I ever seen authentic portrayals in the media of what it really means to be a nurse. I feel the overall society's knowledge of nurse's modern and historical contributions can help with how we are portrayed in the media. I am motivated to change that imagery by featuring authentic versions of nurses... starting with this book.
Tell us about your journey in nursing?
I remember the fateful Christmas morning when I was a young girl growing up in Guyana with a big dream. When my parents gave me the gift of a nurse doll with a stethoscope, needles, syringes and bandages, I knew at five-years-old that I wanted to become a nurse. I boldly declared my ambition to my parents. My mother, Ruby Gouveia, was a wonderful influence because she worked as a doctor's receptionist at the main hospital in Georgetown, Guyana. I loved visiting her. I admired her sweet, positive spirit and the loving way she interacted with her patients. They always called her "Nursey." So, as a child, I started my passion for nursing in my parent's home, the best I knew how, roping my siblings into being my reluctant patients. They usually ran away because they didn't want to be bossed around by me!
Then, when I got married at 19 to my husband James, we immigrated to the United States. We didn't have much as a couple, but we both took our schooling seriously -- myself as a blossoming nurse and him as an up-and-coming scientist. Chasing the American Dream was not easy, I can tell you. They barely allowed Black nurses (much less immigrant Black nurses!) into nursing programs in the 1980's. So when I graduated and got my first job as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) I was ecstatic! My journey then got a bit more complicated. I became pregnant, and had to delay my pursuit of advancing my education to focus on this beautiful new role of motherhood. I dropped out of school and gave birth to my two daughters, Jamie and Deborah in close succession, while living in Lubbock, Texas. Our family relocated to Orange County, California where my twin sons, Jared and Jason, were then born. Sometimes I felt my career was over before it even began. But taking a piecemeal approach, I took classes one by one to achieve my pre-required courses for entrance into the nursing program (and with that, I still had to be back home on time to eat dinner as a family.) When I received my associate's degree, I finally became a registered nurse. My career took off at Irvine Medical Center, and then I became a pediatric nurse at CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County. As a float pool nurse I got the opportunity to work in every area of the hospital. I just loved hearing from my patients, "Can you be my nurse tomorrow?" I was promoted to become a Nurse Educator for six years leading the ongoing education for over 500 staff members.
After 13 years at CHOC, I took a leap of faith and became a travel nurse, working in hospitals in Texas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles -- nothing like Orange County, I can tell you! These unfamiliar environments broadened my horizons. I decided to go for my master's degree and then my doctorate (to the groans of my family, "Another degree mom?" they would always say. Ha!) I entered the ivory tower as a professor at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), and I am currently a clinical professor at University of California, Irvine (UCI).
What obstacles did you overcome?
Looking back on those days with both fondness and nostalgia, I am filled with mixed emotions. What is the power of determination, resilience, and focus? I remember when my husband and I could only afford a $1.99 meal at Church's Chicken for a date night. Or we would chow down on leftover pizza from his pizza delivery job at Mr. Gatti's pizza. The adversities we faced brought us together. I remember walking through snow for the first time when I did not have a car. Slipping and sliding in the slush, I felt the tinge of the biting cold on my fingers and toes. Strange new sensations differing from my native sunshin-y Guyana. I feel like my journey is like that snow that fell to the ground and turned to grey ice on the street -- beautiful and hard at the same time. I am very proud of what I have achieved as an immigrant in a foreign land and grateful for the many lessons I have learned in the healthcare field. My career, viewed through the prism of a Guyanese-American, has been chock-full of rich opportunities to make meaningful impact in the profession I had always dreamed of doing.
How did you overcome them?
Overcoming any obstacles in life is first focusing on what you want to achieve. What I wanted to achieve became where my mind and determination was -- becoming a nurse. I had to decide not to be dissuaded by an environment that did not fully support me. Eyes on the prize!
What brings you the greatest joy professionally?
I feel the greatest joy when I see a sick child recover, when our relief team saves a life in an emergency situation, or I get to be the soothing voice and gentle touch for a struggling patient. Also, the number of lives I have impacted as a nurse and professor, the decades of molding students to see them blossom into excellent nurses who advance their careers. I feel a sense of pride that I got to play a small role in the advancement of their education and career as the next generation of nurses.
Were there any stories that were recounted to you that surprised you?
Overall, what surprised me the most was how many of the nurse pioneers I interviewed struggled with being misperceived by others. So many of them had to push against racist narratives and sterotypical prejudices saying that they could never achieve the lofty leadership positions they have attained. These nurses often experienced resistance from other healthcare leaders and always had to prove themselves. This common theme was echoed by every diverse group: such as African American nurse Dr. Beverly Malone, the President of National League of Nursing, or native Hawaiian nurse Mary Oneha, President Obama's Champion for Change, or Indian nurse Suja Thomas, the former President of the National Association of Indian Nurses of America. I was thrilled when Suja wrote me a thank you note saying, "You've created a meaningful platform that uplifts the voices of multicultural nurses -- those who have long labored behind the scenes, transforming lives with every compassionate act."
Were there any stories from nurses or information that you later regretted not using?
No, I think I used most of the information I sought. Nurses were eager to tell their stories! I actually had to slow down on receiving stories or the book would have been too voluminous.
What do you want readers to leave with when they read this book?
I want readers to discover what being a nurse is truly all about. I want them to understand nurses' value to society, and the incredible contribution nurses make to bettering the lives of others. I want readers to explore the historical journey of this profession from simple to complex, and to honor the stories of diverse and multicultural nursing pioneers who paved the way for nurses like me. I want them to understand the battle many of these minorities overcame in their pursuit of this noble career, as they climbed towards higher leadership and education. Advanced education has truly made nursing a stand-alone healthcare profession, and I want readers to appreciate the level of professional skills, medical techniques, and hard-won education it takes to be a nurse. After all, we nurses are not just bedpan pushers; we are healthcare providers, social advocates, and beacons of hope to families worldwide. Finally, I want readers to listen to my story. The story of a dreamer who traveled from Guyana to America to pursue her greatest love, nursing.
Even as the modern healthcare industry has advanced in technology, I feel the central work of the nurse is still not fully recognized or appreciated. If you look at many popular television shows, nurses are often not portrayed in ways that truly represent their tremendous skill, education, and professionalism. A nurse might be portrayed instead as a sexy candy striper, a simple 'maidservant' for the doctors, or as a negative, toxic, and frenetic caregiver. Rarely have I ever seen authentic portrayals in the media of what it really means to be a nurse. I feel the overall society's knowledge of nurse's modern and historical contributions can help with how we are portrayed in the media. I am motivated to change that imagery by featuring authentic versions of nurses... starting with this book.
Tell us about your journey in nursing?
I remember the fateful Christmas morning when I was a young girl growing up in Guyana with a big dream. When my parents gave me the gift of a nurse doll with a stethoscope, needles, syringes and bandages, I knew at five-years-old that I wanted to become a nurse. I boldly declared my ambition to my parents. My mother, Ruby Gouveia, was a wonderful influence because she worked as a doctor's receptionist at the main hospital in Georgetown, Guyana. I loved visiting her. I admired her sweet, positive spirit and the loving way she interacted with her patients. They always called her "Nursey." So, as a child, I started my passion for nursing in my parent's home, the best I knew how, roping my siblings into being my reluctant patients. They usually ran away because they didn't want to be bossed around by me!
Then, when I got married at 19 to my husband James, we immigrated to the United States. We didn't have much as a couple, but we both took our schooling seriously -- myself as a blossoming nurse and him as an up-and-coming scientist. Chasing the American Dream was not easy, I can tell you. They barely allowed Black nurses (much less immigrant Black nurses!) into nursing programs in the 1980's. So when I graduated and got my first job as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) I was ecstatic! My journey then got a bit more complicated. I became pregnant, and had to delay my pursuit of advancing my education to focus on this beautiful new role of motherhood. I dropped out of school and gave birth to my two daughters, Jamie and Deborah in close succession, while living in Lubbock, Texas. Our family relocated to Orange County, California where my twin sons, Jared and Jason, were then born. Sometimes I felt my career was over before it even began. But taking a piecemeal approach, I took classes one by one to achieve my pre-required courses for entrance into the nursing program (and with that, I still had to be back home on time to eat dinner as a family.) When I received my associate's degree, I finally became a registered nurse. My career took off at Irvine Medical Center, and then I became a pediatric nurse at CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County. As a float pool nurse I got the opportunity to work in every area of the hospital. I just loved hearing from my patients, "Can you be my nurse tomorrow?" I was promoted to become a Nurse Educator for six years leading the ongoing education for over 500 staff members.
After 13 years at CHOC, I took a leap of faith and became a travel nurse, working in hospitals in Texas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles -- nothing like Orange County, I can tell you! These unfamiliar environments broadened my horizons. I decided to go for my master's degree and then my doctorate (to the groans of my family, "Another degree mom?" they would always say. Ha!) I entered the ivory tower as a professor at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), and I am currently a clinical professor at University of California, Irvine (UCI).
What obstacles did you overcome?
Looking back on those days with both fondness and nostalgia, I am filled with mixed emotions. What is the power of determination, resilience, and focus? I remember when my husband and I could only afford a $1.99 meal at Church's Chicken for a date night. Or we would chow down on leftover pizza from his pizza delivery job at Mr. Gatti's pizza. The adversities we faced brought us together. I remember walking through snow for the first time when I did not have a car. Slipping and sliding in the slush, I felt the tinge of the biting cold on my fingers and toes. Strange new sensations differing from my native sunshin-y Guyana. I feel like my journey is like that snow that fell to the ground and turned to grey ice on the street -- beautiful and hard at the same time. I am very proud of what I have achieved as an immigrant in a foreign land and grateful for the many lessons I have learned in the healthcare field. My career, viewed through the prism of a Guyanese-American, has been chock-full of rich opportunities to make meaningful impact in the profession I had always dreamed of doing.
How did you overcome them?
Overcoming any obstacles in life is first focusing on what you want to achieve. What I wanted to achieve became where my mind and determination was -- becoming a nurse. I had to decide not to be dissuaded by an environment that did not fully support me. Eyes on the prize!
What brings you the greatest joy professionally?
I feel the greatest joy when I see a sick child recover, when our relief team saves a life in an emergency situation, or I get to be the soothing voice and gentle touch for a struggling patient. Also, the number of lives I have impacted as a nurse and professor, the decades of molding students to see them blossom into excellent nurses who advance their careers. I feel a sense of pride that I got to play a small role in the advancement of their education and career as the next generation of nurses.
Were there any stories that were recounted to you that surprised you?
Overall, what surprised me the most was how many of the nurse pioneers I interviewed struggled with being misperceived by others. So many of them had to push against racist narratives and sterotypical prejudices saying that they could never achieve the lofty leadership positions they have attained. These nurses often experienced resistance from other healthcare leaders and always had to prove themselves. This common theme was echoed by every diverse group: such as African American nurse Dr. Beverly Malone, the President of National League of Nursing, or native Hawaiian nurse Mary Oneha, President Obama's Champion for Change, or Indian nurse Suja Thomas, the former President of the National Association of Indian Nurses of America. I was thrilled when Suja wrote me a thank you note saying, "You've created a meaningful platform that uplifts the voices of multicultural nurses -- those who have long labored behind the scenes, transforming lives with every compassionate act."
Were there any stories from nurses or information that you later regretted not using?
No, I think I used most of the information I sought. Nurses were eager to tell their stories! I actually had to slow down on receiving stories or the book would have been too voluminous.
What do you want readers to leave with when they read this book?
I want readers to discover what being a nurse is truly all about. I want them to understand nurses' value to society, and the incredible contribution nurses make to bettering the lives of others. I want readers to explore the historical journey of this profession from simple to complex, and to honor the stories of diverse and multicultural nursing pioneers who paved the way for nurses like me. I want them to understand the battle many of these minorities overcame in their pursuit of this noble career, as they climbed towards higher leadership and education. Advanced education has truly made nursing a stand-alone healthcare profession, and I want readers to appreciate the level of professional skills, medical techniques, and hard-won education it takes to be a nurse. After all, we nurses are not just bedpan pushers; we are healthcare providers, social advocates, and beacons of hope to families worldwide. Finally, I want readers to listen to my story. The story of a dreamer who traveled from Guyana to America to pursue her greatest love, nursing.
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