The Health of Us All : A History of Nursing Education at McMaster University

Since its founding in 1946, with enrollment of fewer than twenty students, the McMaster School of Nursing has grown into a leader in nursing education, graduating thousands of nurses and earning international recognition for its contributions to nursing education, research, and practice.

The Health of Us All traces the first seventy years in the history of the school, showing how its achievements rest on three interlaced strengths: innovative approaches to nursing education, collaborative partnerships that advanced the profession in Canada and beyond, and the integration of research, education, and clinical practice. Enriched by first-hand accounts, the book explores key milestones in the school’s development, including the implementation of problem-based learning and evidence-based practice, the integration of emerging technology, and sustained engagement with global health initiatives. Partnerships with clinical and educational communities, both locally and internationally, reflect the school’s humanitarian values, including the multi-year collaboration with Aga Khan University, which helped transform health education in Pakistan while enriching McMaster’s own development. Across these themes, the book highlights the leadership strategies that enabled the school to respond to challenges and opportunities in building research capacity and educational programs, including nurse practitioner education, graduate studies, and nursing-specific research.

The Health of Us All is a valuable account of how nursing has evolved within higher education, from questions of resource allocation to recognition for this predominantly female profession. Amid discussions about the long-term sustainability of postsecondary education and health care systems in Canada, the history of McMaster’s School of Nursing offers insights, lessons, and inspiration.