I love reading historical fiction about strong women, and nurses have always played a vital role in history.
Nursing has long been a female-dominated profession, and the courage, compassion, and resilience these women showed—especially in times of war and crisis—are truly inspiring.
This list contains what I believe are some of the best books about nurses. Each one highlights the incredible sacrifices they made, whether on the front lines of war or in the face of everyday struggles.
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The Women is up there with some of my favourite Kristin Hannah novels.
In 1965, nursing student Frankie McGrath hears the words “women can be heroes, too,” sparking a new path in her life. Leaving her sheltered life in California behind, she joins the Army Nurses Corps and is soon thrown into the chaos of the Vietnam War.
She faces the harsh realities of war, forming unbreakable bonds and making life-or-death decisions.
But coming home is just as tough as America is divided, and she and her fellow veterans are left to face the war’s aftermath alone.
In November 1941, newly enlisted Army Corps nurse Eva Cassidy sets sail for Hawaii aboard the SS Lurline. As she crosses the Pacific, she meets Lt. Clark Spencer, a man with secrets of his own.
When the attack on Pearl Harbor shatters their world, Eva and her fellow nurses fight to save lives. But danger lurks beyond the battlefield, forcing Eva to decide who she can trust and how far she’ll go to protect those she loves.
Superintendent of Nurses Julia Stimson is sent to Rouen, France, during World War I to recruit nurses for the exhausted British forces. At British Base Hospital 12, she and her team face brutal conditions and resistance from military doctors.
When a mysterious illness spreads, Julia must decide whether to risk everything to save lives or follow the rules and watch others suffer.
This novel is inspired by the real story of two American sisters who defy societal expectations during World War I.
Ruth dreams of becoming a doctor, but the harsh realities of war challenge her hopes, while Elise discovers her own purpose in the all-female Ambulance Corps.
Set in the Philippines in 1941, this novel follows the friendship of U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel.
As they serve under combat conditions and endure captivity as the first female prisoners of World War II, they lean on each other for support and hope.
The Pull of the Stars is set in Dublin, 1918. Nurse Julia Power tends to expectant mothers afflicted with a mysterious flu in an understaffed hospital.
With the help of Doctor Kathleen Lynn and volunteer Bridie Sweeney, she faces three intense days of loss, hope, and resilience.
In New York City, 1926, Nurse Althea Anderson is deeply affected by the loss of premature babies at Bellevue Hospital.
Upon learning about the success of incubators at Luna Park, Coney Island, she sees it as a miraculous opportunity. However, the hospital’s doctors reject this unconventional treatment, forcing Althea to make a life-changing decision for the sake of a baby’s life.
Twenty-five years later, Stella Wright faces personal turmoil after her mother’s death, quitting her job and struggling in her marriage.
Bellevue, built on Florence Nightingale’s principles, transforms nursing into a respected profession, demanding discipline, intelligence, and integrity.
Una, unsure at first, soon realises her tough upbringing has prepared her for the hospital’s challenges. But when she uncovers a deadly secret, she must choose between protecting herself or risking everything to do what’s right.
