Wash Your Hands: A Timeline Game of Nursing History
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Kathryn Kuskie
Subject Area
Nursing
Description
Needles, special plants, Florence Nightingale, and blood sucking animals used to treat disease, nursing history is rich with fascinating and sometimes surprising practices. Our project transforms this history into an interactive learning experience through a timeline-based card game designed for nursing students. In this game, players are challenged to place historical events, innovations, and influential figures in chronological order. By actively engaging with the material, students reinforce their understanding of how nursing has evolved over time, from early, traditional practices to modern, evidence based care. This approach promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and active recall, making learning both fun and effective. The game can be easily adapted for classroom use, study groups, or independent review, offering a flexible and engaging alternative to traditional study methods. By combining education with play, this project aims to deepen student appreciation for the roots of the nursing profession while also supporting retention of key historical concepts essential to nursing practice.
Recommended Citation
Kuskie, Kathryn; Flores-Lopez, Jennifer; Kim, Jimyung; Krasniqi, Arta; and Scutariu, Sara, "Wash Your Hands: A Timeline Game of Nursing History" (2026). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 1.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2026/all/1
Wash Your Hands: A Timeline Game of Nursing History
Needles, special plants, Florence Nightingale, and blood sucking animals used to treat disease, nursing history is rich with fascinating and sometimes surprising practices. Our project transforms this history into an interactive learning experience through a timeline-based card game designed for nursing students. In this game, players are challenged to place historical events, innovations, and influential figures in chronological order. By actively engaging with the material, students reinforce their understanding of how nursing has evolved over time, from early, traditional practices to modern, evidence based care. This approach promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and active recall, making learning both fun and effective. The game can be easily adapted for classroom use, study groups, or independent review, offering a flexible and engaging alternative to traditional study methods. By combining education with play, this project aims to deepen student appreciation for the roots of the nursing profession while also supporting retention of key historical concepts essential to nursing practice.