It’s not every day that you get to touch history. Recently, I had the privilege, alongside Immediate Past President Dr. Angela Dykes, to visit the South Carolina Nurses Association (SCNA) Archives housed at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Inside, we discovered multiple boxes of documents, programs, and artifacts that traced the remarkable journey of nursing in our state. Each box revealed stories that were interesting, enlightening, and at times deeply challenging—yet they all pointed to the same truth: the collective power of nurses has always been the heartbeat of SCNA.
From its very beginnings, SCNA has stood as the professional voice for all nurses in South Carolina. The archives confirmed what we already know in our spirits—that progress has never been made in isolation. Nurses came together, debated issues, shared ideas, and worked as one body to address the challenges of their time. Whether it was staffing shortages, professional recognition, scope of practice, or questions of equity and fairness, SCNA served then, as it does now, as the platform where nurses united their voices to affect change.
Some of the treasures we uncovered were lighthearted—a program from the 1963 SCNA Convention, which featured a talent show, reminded us that even in serious times, nurses found ways to celebrate, connect, and build community. Other records carried more sobering weight, such as discussions about racial integration, gender inclusion, and whether all nurses were being represented fairly. These documents are vital to our ongoing journey of racial reckoning, forcing us to reflect honestly on how far we’ve come and how much work remains.
What struck us most, however, was the enduring nature of the issues. In the 1960s, SCNA members were grappling with many of the same challenges we face today: staffing shortages, workforce development, maintaining professionalism, and strengthening the communal fabric of our profession. While the decades have changed, the core struggles—and the collective spirit required to meet them—remain the same.
At one time, SCNA membership was only $1.50, but the investment of nurses’ voices, time, and passion was priceless. Those collective contributions laid the groundwork for today’s association. What we hold in our hands now is not just a history of an organization, it is a history of people who believed that nurses are stronger together than apart.
Holding these papers, reviewing past presidents’ reports, membership records, and convention proceedings, was more than a rudimentary exercise. It was a powerful reminder that the work of SCNA is about continuity. It is about honoring the courage of those who pioneered before us, acknowledging the complexities of our shared history, and recommitting ourselves to the same mission: to be the collective voice of all nurses in South Carolina.
As we continue to build our present and shape our future, these archives give us both guidance and inspiration. They remind us that nurses show up. We innovate. We adapt. And above all, we come together to make a difference. That is who we were, who we are, and who we will continue to be.
SCNA’s history is rich, layered, and alive—and our future will be no different. We plan to revisit the archives soon, and we will do so with a renewed sense of connectedness to the profession and to each other.
But history is not only something we preserve, it is something we live and create every day. That is why we call on every nurse in South Carolina to engage, support, and celebrate the nursing profession. We are the largest healthcare workforce in the state, and our collective voices matter. Together, we can honor our past, confront our present challenges, and build a future that uplifts our profession and strengthens the health of every community we serve.
