History of Nursing and Its Time Line

The discipline or practice of nursing has developed over time and many nursing theorists contributed to the professional practice as we know it today .Theory ,research and applications to clinical practice are symbiotic as new concepts ,practices and empirical data emerge professional practice changes or evolves.

During the intuitive period ,people believed that sickness was caused by the invasion of the evil spirits or as a result of anger of the Gods.People used different ways to trat the sickness .Many more eras came and every nation intiated specific practices and contribution in the nursing or medical professions.

0. Florence Nightingale - The word "nurse" is synonymous with Florence Nightingale, the most famous nurse of all time. A British nurse who worked during the 19th century, Nightingale was a selfless nurse who braved harsh conditions in battle during the Crimean War. Also a statistician, Nightingale's dedication to reducing the deaths of British Army soldiers sproduced some groundbreaking findings on the living conditions of patients. Nightingale advocated cleanliness for all people in the hopes to reduce illness and death. 0. 0. Clara Barton - Clara Barton's name is almost as closely related to nursing as Florence Nightingale's. Barton is most famous for organizing the American Red Cross. A lifelong philanthropist in the 1800's, Barton was shocked at the number of lives lost in the Battle of Bull Run due to lack of medical supplies. After that, she traveled with medical teams during the war and assisted as a nurse. Amazingly, she had no formal medical training before her efforts in the war. 0. 0. Margaret Sanger - Margaret Sanger is one of the most famous nurses and women's liberation activists in the world. She advocated women's use of birth control, something that was not common in the early 20th century when she was working as a nurse. Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood. She is largely credited as being responsible for making birth control readily available for women worldwide. 0. 0. Dorothea Lynde Dix - Also known as "Dragon Dix", Dorothea Dix was one of the most famous nurses in the Civil War. She did, in fact, serve as Superintendent of Nurses during that era and was known for her patient advocacy. Dix fought for the fair treatment of both patients and prisoners, bringing about great changes in the policies of mental hospitals. Her unfortunate nickname, however, stemmed from the strict rules she enforced with her staff nurses. 0.
Walt Whitman - Although not necessarily famous for his nursing, Walt Whitman is perhaps one of the most famous nurse in history. At the very least, Whitman is the most famous male nurse. This celebrated poet, author of Leaves of Grass, spent the better part of the Civil War as a volunteer nurse after his brother was wounere are many great historical figures who have served as nurses. The career is considered a noble one, which the above people have only further highlighted. .

Not only has demand for nurses changed over time but so has the role that nurses play in the overall medical health picture. Nurses have always been important to patient care. Today’s roles are taking on more technologically challenging roles than at any other point in history. Some nurses are taking over roles that were once reserved for physicians (nurse midwives, for example).
Nurses are beginning to become more and more specialized than in days past. Today there are specialties like OR (operating room) nurses, Geriatric nurses, medical-surgical nurses, labor and delivery nurses, pediatric nurses, ICU Nurses, and even psychiatric nurses. Education, continuing education, and clinical experience go a long way today to ensure that nurses are on top of their games from the moment they graduate nursing school until they retire from nursing. The workplace today is as much a part of ongoing education in the respective fields for nurses as colleges and other educational institutions.
This hasn’t always been the case. In recent years the nurses role has become less that of a caretaker for patients and more that of an advocate for patients. The nurse assesses the condition of patients, measures the ability of a patient to make informed decisions from him or herself or to provide informed consent for procedures. Today’s nurse is a respected part of a team that is dedicated to delivering excellent patient care.
In addition to the various types of nursing fields to pursue there are different nursing positions that can be obtained by further education as a nurse. 0. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) 0. Associate’s Degree Registered Nurse (ADRN or ADN) 0. Bachelor of Science Degree Registered Nurse (BSRN or BSN) 0. Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) 0. Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
Nurse Practitioners (NP)