The historical development of nursing knowledge reflects the political, social, and professional contexts that have shaped it, but also different visions of science and scientific knowledge. This article focuses on these two elements, science and scientific nursing knowledge, in order to examine nursing knowledge in the context in which it was proposed. Examining the influences that have shaped its development allows us to situate it among what were recognized as the modalities of knowledge development and the structures of knowledge formulation. By looking back we thus seek to appreciate the true value of nursing knowledge by providing keys to understanding its particular nature in relation to contemporary views of knowledge formulation, and to highlight the merits of those who helped lay the foundations for disciplinary knowledge. This historical overview of the development of nursing knowledge raises awareness of the status and growth of nursing knowledge and of the theorists who made it possible. It also seeks to restore and inspire a respect for its pioneers that is often lacking in nursing.