'Nursing' is a
profession focused on assisting individuals,
families, and
communities in attaining, maintaining, and recovering optimal
health and functioning. Modern definitions of nursing define it as a
science and an
art that focuses on promoting
quality of life as defined by persons and families, throughout their life experiences from
birth to care at the
end of life.
History of nursing
Main articles: Timeline of nursing history
Nursing has existed in various forms in every culture, although the definition of the term and the practice of nursing has changed greatly over time. The oldest sense of the word in the
English language is found from the 14th century and referred to a woman employed to suckle and generally care for a younger child. The former being known as a
wet nurse and the latter being known as a ''dry nurse''.
[1] In the 15th century, this developed into the idea of looking after or advising another, not necessarily meaning a woman looking after a child.
Nursing has continued to develop in this latter sense, although the idea of nourishing in the broadest sense refers in modern nursing to promoting quality of life.
Prior to the foundation of modern nursing,
nuns and the military often provided nursing-like services.
[2] The religious and military roots of modern nursing remain in evidence today in many countries. For example, in Britain, senior female nurses are known as ‘‘sisters’’.
It was during time of war that a significant development in nursing history arose when
Florence Nightingale, working to improve conditions of soldiers in the
Crimean War, laid the foundation stone of professional nursing with the principles summarised in the book ''
Notes on Nursing''. Other important nurses in the development of the profession include:
Mary Seacole, who also worked as a nurse in the Crimea;
Agnes Elizabeth Jones and
Linda Richards, who established quality nursing schools in the USA and Japan, and
Linda Richards who was officially America's First Trained Nurse, graduating in
1873 from the ''New England Hospital for Women and Children'' in
Boston.
New Zealand was the first country to regulate nurses nationally, with adoption of the
Nurses Registration Act on the 12th of September , 1901.
Ellen Dougherty was the first
Registered Nurse.
North Carolina was the first state in the United States to pass a nursing licensure law in 1903.
Nurses have experienced difficulty with the hierarchy in medicine that has resulted in an impression that nurses primary purpose is to follow the direction of medics.
[3] This tendency is certainly not observed in Nightingale's ''Notes on Nursing'', where the doctors are mentioned relatively infrequently and often in critical tones, particularly relating to
bedside manner.
[4]
The modern era has seen the development of
nursing degrees and nursing has numerous
journals to broaden the knowledge base of the profession. Nurses are often in key management roles within health services and hold research posts at universities.
Nursing as a profession
The aim of the nursing community worldwide is to develop the profession guided by continuing education based on
nursing research, and to regulate standards of competency and
ethics.
[5] There are a number of
educational paths to becoming a professional nurse, which vary greatly worldwide, but all involve extensive study of
nursing theory and practice and training in clinical
skills.
The authority for the practice of nursing is based upon a social contract that delineates professional rights and responsibilities as well as mechanisms for public accountability. In almost all countries,
nursing practice is defined and governed by law, and entrance to the profession is regulated at national or state level.
Nursing practice
Main articles: Nursing practice
Nursing practice is primarily the caring relationship between the nurse and the person in their care. In providing
nursing care, nurses are implementing the
nursing care plan, which is based on a
nursing assessment.
Definition
Although nursing practice varies both though its various specialities and countries these nursing organisations offer the following definitions.
Nursing theory and process
Main articles: Nursing theory,
Nursing process
In general terms, the
nursing process is the method used to
assess and
diagnose needs,
plan and implement interventions, and evaluate the outcomes of the care provided. Like other disciplines, the profession has developed different
theories derived from sometimes diverse philosophical beliefs and
paradigms or
worldviews to help nurses direct their activities to accomplish specific goals.
Practice settings
Nurses practice in a wide range of settings, from
hospitals to visiting people in their
homes and caring for them in
schools to research in
pharmaceutical companies. Nurses work in
occupational health settings (also called industrial health settings), free-standing clinics and physician offices, nurse-run clinics, long-term care facilities, and camps. They also work on cruise ships and in military service. Nurses act as advisers and consultants to the healthcare and insurance industries. Some are attorneys and others work with attorneys as
legal nurse consultants, reviewing patient records to assure that adequate care was provided and testifying in court. Nurses can work on a temporary basis, which involves doing shifts without a contact in a variety of settings, sometimes known as per diem nursing, agency nursing or travel nursing.
Regulation of practice
The practice of nursing is governed by laws that define a
scope of practice, generally mandated by the legislature of the political division within which the nurse practices. Nurses are held legally responsible and accountable for their practice. The
standard of care is that of the "prudent nurse."
Nursing specialties
Main articles: List of nursing specialties
Nursing is the most diverse of all . Nurses practice in a wide range of settings but generally nursing is divided depending on the needs of the person being nursed.
The major divisions are:-
★ the nursing of people with mental health problems -
Psychiatric and mental health nursing
★ the nursing of children -
Paediatric nursing
★ the nursing of older adults -
Geriatric nursing
★ the nursing of people in their own homes -
Home health nursing (US),
District nursing and
Health visiting (UK). See also
Live-in nurse
There are also specialist areas such as
cardiac nursing,
orthopaedic nursing and
oncology nursing.
Nursing by country
:''For the occupation of nurses in each country, see
nurse''
See also
★
Nurse
★
Men in Nursing
★
★ History of nursing
★
★
Knights Hospitaller
★
★
Knights Templar
★ Nursing practice
★
★
Nursing care plan
★
★
Nursing practice
★
★
Nursing theory
★
★
Health promotion
★ Nursing specialties
★
★
List of nursing specialties
★
★
★
List of nurses
★ (category)
★
Nursing school
References
1. 'Nurse', 'The Oxford English Dictionary 2nd edition' ISBN 0198611862
2. http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/florrie.html
3. Doctors and nurses: new game, same result, , Mark, Radcliffe, British Medical Journal,
4. Nightingale, Florence (1860) Notes on Nursing Full text online Accessed 14 August 2007
5. International Council of Nurses Accessed August 2007
External links
★
American Association for the History of Nursing
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