Historical Development of Nursing
Historical Development of Nursing
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as “…the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (American Nurses Association, 2003, p. 6). Nursing is considered an art, a practice, and a science. The relationship between theory, research, and practice is circular. According to Dr. John Daly of Australia, “Nursing science is an identifiable, discrete body of knowledge comprising paradigms, frameworks, and theories” (George, 2011, p. 1). Nursing science provides the basis for the professional nursing practice.
The Early Years: Nightingale to 1950s
Many would agree that Florence Nightingale was the first nursing theorist, although she did not receive this recognition until after her death. Florence Nightingale published Notes on Nursing in 1859. “Nightingale’s most widely known research contribution involved data collection and analysis relating to factors affecting soldier mortality and morbidity during the Crimean War” (Polit & Beck, 2004, p. 5). Although Nightingale did not offer her research as theory, it has changed nursing for more than 150 years (George, 2011).
There was very little research after Nightingale’s research in 1859; this was attributed to the apprenticeship nature of nursing at the time. In 1900, the first issue of the American Nursing Journal was published. Most research studies from 1900 and 1940 were based on the education of nurses. In 1923, a study was performed by the Committee for the Study of Nursing Education. This committee recommended the need for advanced education preparation for nurses (Polit & Beck, 2004).
During the 1940s, nursing education research continued and additional nursing journals were published. There was an increased demand for nurses
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as “…the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (American Nurses Association, 2003, p. 6). Nursing is considered an art, a practice, and a science. The relationship between theory, research, and practice is circular. According to Dr. John Daly of Australia, “Nursing science is an identifiable, discrete body of knowledge comprising paradigms, frameworks, and theories” (George, 2011, p. 1). Nursing science provides the basis for the professional nursing practice.
The Early Years: Nightingale to 1950s
Many would agree that Florence Nightingale was the first nursing theorist, although she did not receive this recognition until after her death. Florence Nightingale published Notes on Nursing in 1859. “Nightingale’s most widely known research contribution involved data collection and analysis relating to factors affecting soldier mortality and morbidity during the Crimean War” (Polit & Beck, 2004, p. 5). Although Nightingale did not offer her research as theory, it has changed nursing for more than 150 years (George, 2011).
There was very little research after Nightingale’s research in 1859; this was attributed to the apprenticeship nature of nursing at the time. In 1900, the first issue of the American Nursing Journal was published. Most research studies from 1900 and 1940 were based on the education of nurses. In 1923, a study was performed by the Committee for the Study of Nursing Education. This committee recommended the need for advanced education preparation for nurses (Polit & Beck, 2004).
During the 1940s, nursing education research continued and additional nursing journals were published. There was an increased demand for nurses
References: American Nurses Association. (2003). Nursing’s social policy statement (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author. Changanacherry, K. (2011). Nursing theories: A companion to nursing theories and models. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html George, J. B. (2011). Nursing theories: The base for professional nursing practice (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2004). Nursing research: Principles and methods (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Scudder, J. R., & Bishop, A. H. (1997). Nursing as a practice rather than an art or a science. Nursing Outlook, 45(2), pp. 82-85. Retrieved from University of Phoenix EBSCOhost Spurr, S., Bally, J., Ogenchuk, M., & Petermelj-Taylor, C. (2011). A wellness framework for pediatric nursing clinical practice. Holistic Nursing Practice, 25(6), 298-308. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0b013e318232c5c6 Wilson, C. (2005, July-September). My definition of nursing. Nursing Forum, 40(3), 116-118. Retrieved from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu from/library