What role did Dorothea Dix have during the Civil War?

Dorothea Dix played a crucial role during the Civil War as the leader of military nurses. Her extensive background in advocating for mental health reform and her commitment to social causes prepared her to take on this significant responsibility. As the Superintendent of Army Nurses, she was instrumental in organizing and providing medical assistance to soldiers, improving conditions in hospitals and camps. Dix's efforts included recruiting and training women to serve as nurses, which not only helped address the vast need for medical care during the war but also helped elevate the status of nursing as a profession for women. Her leadership contributed greatly to the care of the wounded and established standards that would influence nursing in the future.