According to the chapter, what were the concerns of nurse leaders in the early 1950s that led to the call for a philosophy of nursing?

Nurse leaders in the early 1950s were concerned that clinical nurses were moving away from direct patient care into managerial roles and that technologies were increasingly interfering with care. They were especially troubled that these changes resulted from social factors beyond nurses' reflective, intentional action. This prompted the call for a philosophy of nursing to define nursing, clarify what its practice should be, and defend the proper role of nurses.

According to the chapter, concerns voiced by nurse leaders in the early 1950s centered on the rapidly shifting roles of nurses, particularly the gradual movement of clinical nurses away from direct patient care toward managerial responsibilities. They also worried about the growing interference of new technologies with patient care. A especially troubling aspect was that these changes were driven by social factors outside nurses' own reflective and intentional decision-making, which made the situation seem beyond the profession's control. In response, academic leaders proposed that nursing formulate a philosophy of nursing capable of clarifying what nursing practice should be, expressing its essential values, and answering the question 'What is nursing?' as a way to find the heart of nursing and defend nurses' proper role.