The Emergence of the North Texas Korean American Nurses Society and its Contributions to Korean Immigrant Societies in the U.S.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the emergence of the North Texas Korean American Nurses Society (NTKANS) and to examine its sociocultural contributions to Korean immigrant societies in the U.S. for the last half century. Methods: The study used retrospective historical analysis to explore the first North Texas Korean immigrant nurses’footsteps. Using Christy’s historical research methodology, this study explored themes found in the NTKANS Minutes, the directories, and newspapers, and compared them with historical nursing contexts found in documents, immigrant nurse’s pictures, and letters. Interviews with twenty first immigrant Korean nurses, the members, were also use d as main data. Results: Since its emergence in 1969, the NTKANS have contributed to local Korean societies through community medical services, financial supports to local Korean associations, local publications, and opening Korean school. In addition, the society has contributed to the other Korean immigrant nursing societies in the U.S. Conclusion: The sociocultural contributions NTKANS had made to Korean immigrant societies were not possible without its members’ enormous efforts, personal struggles, and altruistic dedications. The trials and tribulations these immigrant nurses have overcome and the achievements they made for last half century would greatly inspire students and nurses in Korea who may seek international leadership and scholarship.