CYCLICAL EVOLUTION OF NURSING-EDUCATION AND PROFESSION IN IRAN - RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL INFLUENCES

This article was written to gain some insight into the underlying soci al and/or cultural forces that have, over the centuries, influenced th e development of nursing education and the nursing profession in Iran, one of the most ancient civilizations of the world. As a native of Ir an deeply involved in the nursing profession and in many aspects of nu rsing education, I decided to review my many years of experience and o bservations in these fields in Iran to better understand how the noble profession evolved as it did in my native country. For the years foll owing the Islamic Revolution of 1977 to 1979, I was forced to rely on information gathered from my professional colleagues. An extensive sea rch of the literature yielded a better understanding of the very early years. Analysis of this data seemingly produced a potpourri of such b asic issues as modes of education, cultural/religious states of consci ousness, and the rights of women. These are not factors generally cons idered germane to the development of the nursing profession and nursin g education, although the latter two have proven to be crucial issues in understanding the development and current status of nursing educati on and the nursing profession in Iran.