# Beyond Healthcare, How Nurses Have Shaped Modern Society

By Brian Urban · Published 2023-12-04 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Healthcare on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/how-nurses-have-shaped-society

> Nursing's influence extends far beyond hospital walls to reshape policy, culture, and social movements across generations

## Key points

- Nurses have historically been agents of social and political change, not just caregivers.
- The profession has influenced public health policy, civil rights, and community advocacy movements.
- Nursing's legacy continues to shape modern healthcare systems and broader societal structures.

Block Field

Nurses Have Shaped Modern Society beyond healthcare to stand as pivotal figures that transcend their traditional roles, influencing the broader spectrum of societal change. [Healthcare Rethink](https://marketscale.com/shows/finthrive/), a FinThrive podcast hosted by [Brian Urban](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-urban-8416b571/), welcomes [**Sarah DiGregorio**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-digregorio-8b871986/), Journalist, Author, and Speaker, to discuss her second book, ["Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World."](https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Care-Story-Nursing-Change-ebook/dp/B0B8D9KWXW) As a journalist and author with a rich background spanning academia to food journalism, DiGregorio pivots to healthcare, drawn by personal experiences and a drive to spotlight the nuanced human side of navigating the medical system.

DiGregorio's work, deeply influenced by her experiences as a mother to a premature child and a daughter to ailing parents, offers a compelling narrative on the transformative power of nursing. The discussion with Urban traverses the evolution of [nursing](https://marketscale.com/industries/health/imperative-for-innovation-in-nursing/), the unrecognized depth of nurses' contributions, and their profound connection with patients amidst healthcare's complex labyrinths. DiGregorio's book sheds light on the 27 million nurses who underpin healthcare delivery and significantly impact cost reduction and patient experience, underscoring the pressing need to reevaluate nursing's place in modern medicine and society.

Tags: Brian Urban, healthcare issues, Healthcare Rethink podcast, modern society, nurses, Sarah DiGregorio, Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World

---
Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/how-nurses-have-shaped-society. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt