MARGARET H. SANGER (1879-1966)

Based on your research, what do you think was your historical nurses’ most significant contribution to nursing and healthcare and why?

I believe Margaret Sanger’s most significant contribution to nursing and healthcare was her research and success in developing the first oral contraceptive or birth control pill (ANA, 2016). She also created the first Planned Parenthood clinic for women to receive proper forms of contraceptives and abortions (Katz, 2000). Her work is influential today because many women use the birth control pill and utilize birth control clinics to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The current low price of birth control makes it easily accessible to women of all backgrounds, which is what Sanger wanted to provide (Katz, 2000).

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Carly VanderkolkArizona State University

What did you find the most surprising, odd, interesting or curious thing about your historical nurse?

What surprised me most about Margaret Sanger was the multitude of beliefs she stood for and the amount of feats she was able to accomplish during her time. These included creating multiple organizations for the legalization of contraceptives, and constantly fighting to show the government that birth control is a necessity for a majority of women and families (ANA, 2016). She was a strong voice in the feminist movement and cared deeply for all races and people of all financial backgrounds (ANA, 2016). Towards the end of her career she was focused on using contraceptives for population control, and wanted to create international leagues to communicate with other countries regarding this subject (Katz, 2000). She was kind and genuinely cared for others despite being a wealthy woman with little professional experience. I was also surprised how she was unafraid to stand up for her beliefs and for the well-being of those around her, even if it meant going to prison or sacrificing her personal life and relationships (Katz, 2000).

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How might you use the information your discovered about your historical nurse in your future as a member of the healthcare profession?

Currently I am interested in pursuing a career in the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology , and Margaret Sanger was a pioneer in these areas. By knowing the roots of this study and how birth control options and clinics came to be, it has helped me gain a greater appreciation for this field. I am fortunate that I will be able to offer care to patients using these methods, and that I can continue the research and work of historical nurses like Sanger to better the lives of women and their families. I hope to be influential like Margaret Sanger and to make a difference in the medical field by providing people with the information and help they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

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REFERENCES

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Katz, E. (2000). Sanger, Margaret. American National Biography Online. Retrieved January 19, 2016, from http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00598.html

Fig. 1. Margaret H. Sanger (1879-1966) 1976 Inductee. (2016). American Nurses Association. Retrieved January 19, 2016, from

http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/Honoring-Nurses/NationalAwardsProgram/HallofFame/19761982/sangmh5579.htmlFig. 2. Sanger, Margaret. American National Biography Online. Retrieved January 19,

2016, from http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00598.htmlFig. 3. Contraception. (n.d.). NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. Retrieved January 19, 2016,

from http://prochoicetexas.org/learn-more/contraception/Fig. 4. What Every Girl Should Know. (2014) Encylopaedia Britannica Online.

Retrieved January 19, 2016, from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-Sanger Margaret H. Sanger (1879-1966) 1976 Inductee. (2016). American Nurses Association.

Retrieved January 19, 2016, from http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/Honoring-Nurses/NationalAwardsProgram/HallofFame/19761982/sangmh5579.html