PURPOSE
To describe the emergence of the North Texas Korean American Nurses Society (NTKANS) and to examine its sociocultural contributions to Korean immigrant societies in the U.S. for the last half century.
METHODS
The study used retrospective historical analysis to explore the first North Texas Korean immigrant nurses' footsteps. Using Christy's historical research methodology, this study explored themes found in the NTKANS Minutes, the directories, and newspapers, and compared them with historical nursing contexts found in documents, immigrant nurse's pictures, and letters. Interviews with twenty first immigrant Korean nurses, the members, were also used as main data.
RESULTS
Since its emergence in 1969, the NTKANS have contributed to local Korean societies through community medical services, financial supports to local Korean associations, local publications, and opening Korean school. In addition, the society has contributed to the other Korean immigrant nursing societies in the U.S.
CONCLUSION
The sociocultural contributions NTKANS had made to Korean immigrant societies were not possible without its members' enormous efforts, personal struggles, and altruistic dedications. The trials and tribulations these immigrant nurses have overcome and the achievements they made for last half century would greatly inspire students and nurses in Korea who may seek international leadership and scholarship.

Citations

• Contribution of North Texas Korean Nurse Association COVID-19 Task Force Team to Promote the Health of Local Korean Immigrant Community Amid the Pandemic
  Kyoung Eun Lee, Mikyoung A. Lee
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2021; 51(5): 505.     CrossRef
• Impacts of Social Support and Acculturative Stress on Depression among Korean Registered Nurses in the United States
  Young-Mi Jung
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2014; 20(2): 192.     CrossRef