How has nursing practice evolved over time
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How has nursing practice evolved over time?
Nursing practice has developed from unstructured care-giving to a highly professionalized and varied industry. Today’s nurses are responsible for a wide range of tasks and possibilities, including clinical care, leadership, instruction and management, research, and activism. As healthcare systems and the communities they serve change and develop, the profession must also adapt and evolve. One of the significant new responsibilities in nursing practice is providing care and consultations via tele-medicine. Some nurses are even pursuing non-traditional careers as flight nurses in emergency aircraft, and travel nursing across the country (Young Whee Lee. 2022)
Nurses can now receive Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and even doctoral-level degrees in nursing if they wish to teach or perform research due to more recent advancements in nursing practice..
Discuss the key leaders and historical events that have influenced the advancement of nursing, nursing education, and nursing roles that are now part of the contemporary nursing profession.
The rise and evolution of nursing practice over the years have been influenced by many key leaders and historical events. Here is an example of the significant events that have influenced the nursing profession today:
1- Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) is frequently credited as the founder of contemporary nursing, Nightingale’s writings and teachings established nursing as a well-respected and scientific profession. Nightingale wrote about three fundamental pillars of nursing care which are risk reduction, disease prevention, and promotion of good health. Also, by working during the Crimean War in the mid-19th century and emphasizing the value of cleanliness, hygiene, and patient care, her efforts in infection control helped lower mortality rates in military hospitals. Nightingale established the School of Nursing in 1860, setting the criteria and standard for nursing education and training (Dean et al., 2022).
2- Lillian Wald (1867-1940) is the founder of the Henry Street Settlement in New York City in 1893, she was an innovator in the field of public health nursing. While directing the Henry Street Settlement, Wald pushed for community access to public health care, women’s rights, and children’s rights. Her efforts helped shape community nursing today and acknowledge socioeconomic factors of health (Dean et al., 2022).
World Wars I and II: These conflicts boosted the need for nurses, opening up more positions and opportunities for women in the nursing field. Nurses who played vital responsibilities in military healthcare were generally acknowledged. The development of specialist nursing positions, such as nurse practitioners (NP), nurse anesthetists, and midwifery nursing, occurred during the post-World War II era. Finally, Evidence-based practice has resulted from improvements in healthcare technology and research, and nurses are now required to stay updated on these developments (Dean et al., 2022).
In conclusion, from Florence Nightingale’s pioneering work to the current roles and responsibilities of nurses in diverse healthcare settings, nursing practice has changed dramatically through time. Important figures, significant historical occurrences, and continual improvements in education and technology have all contributed significantly to the development of the nursing profession into what it is today.
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